With 2015 drawing to a close it is once again time for our awards program to kick off and this year I will be taking over as Awards Director. On behalf of both the members and myself, I would like to extend my thanks to David Brown for a job well done as last year’s Awards Director. David’s commitment to the advocacy of the awards programme and the evolution of awards policy to meet the needs of an ever-developing profession will benefit members and the advancement of Architecture in South Australia in the years to come.

This year I would like to welcome Adam Brown of KHAB Architects as the Deputy Awards Director. Adam has been a keen contributor to the Institute and has had many years’ experience as a juror in the awards programme. Adam brings to the position a tenacity and enthusiasm that shall see the programme in safe hands in 2017 where Adam will assume the role of Awards Director.

Both Adam and myself are keen advocates of the Awards program as the platform for the profession to showcase not only to ourselves but to the broader community architectures ability to form built environments, spaces and experiences that enrich all our lives, we want to see and the awards continue to be a highlight of the year’s programme and architecture and design to be shared by all!

Whether you are a large or small practice, established or just starting out I encourage you all to enter the awards, share the projects that ‘make you tick’, the projects that changed your clients worlds and the projects that enrich the profession; and if your still waiting on the landscaping to ‘grow in’ or for ‘that sofa’ to evaporate, be sure to come along to the awards night and catch up on another year of architecture in South Australia.

Entry numbers have been steadily on the rise, with a commendable effort in 2015. With light at the end of the tunnel and categories for all scales of projects: Small Projects for those lower budget, tightly designed gems of projects we are all proud of; Residential Alterations and Additions is again a separate category from New Houses, and Education will be enjoying its second year as a separate category, we are keen to see the entry numbers grow in 2016!

Book in those photo-shoots, pop a feather in your cap and show the rest of us what you have been up to!

Sean Humphries, 2016 Awards Director