Wollongong has won a swathe of accolades at the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2015 NSW Architecture Awards announced at Sydney Town Hall on Thursday 2 July.

Three projects from the region took out awards across multiple categories, including top category honours for Urban Design and Sustainable Architecture.

‘It was fantastic to see so many exemplary projects from a regional centre competing with and even being honoured above their metropolitan counterparts. Our regional towns and cities are integral to our national fabric and it’s exciting to see design excellence reaching beyond the boundaries of the capital city.

‘It is important to remember that the requirement for quality architecture and urban places and spaces exists outside of Sydney. We need all our public domain; all of our buildings, everywhere, to benefit from quality design and design thinking,’ NSW Chapter President Shaun Carter said.

Wollongong City Centre and Crown Street Mall Renewal by NSW Government Architect’s Office won the top award for Urban Design, the Lloyd Rees Award.

‘This is one of a series of integrated projects aimed at creating a centre in Wollongong that “supports an active life”. By careful design process the project amply succeeds in its aims, providing a flexible and durable place for people which stretches 360 metres through the city,’ the jury noted.

The GPT Group’s Wollongong Central by HDR Rice Daubney picked up multiple awards including an Award for Commercial Architecture, Award for Urban Design, COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture – Commendation and the IALD Lighting Prize.

‘This is an exemplary project representing the new role of shopping centres as active players in the life of the city. As a catalyst for further development and fine grain revitalisation along the adjacent streets and laneways, it will continue to impact upon the city’s transformation as a vibrant and dense urban centre,’ the jury said.

Cox Richardson’s Sustainable Buildings Research Centre (SBRC) – University of Wollongong won the top prize for Sustainable Architecture, the Milo Dunphy Award, along with a Commendation for Educational Architecture.

SBRC ‘has been designed to achieve certification with the Living Building Challenge, arguably the world’s most stringent environmental rating tool that applies to buildings. The building seeks to be water, energy and carbon neutral; beautiful, inspiring and educational; socially responsible and equitable; nontoxic and healthy,’ the jury said.
Wollongong’s winning projects:

Commercial Architecture
Award – The GPT Group’s Wollongong Central by HDR Rice Daubney

Educational Architecture
Commendation – Sustainable Buildings Research Centre (SBRC) – University of Wollongong by COX Richardson

Sustainable Architecture
Milo Dunphy Award – Sustainable Buildings Research Centre (SBRC) – University of Wollongong by COX Richardson

Urban Design
Lloyd Rees Award – Wollongong City Centre and Crown Street Mall Renewal by NSW Government Architect’s Office
Award – The GPT Group’s Wollongong Central by HDR Rice Daubney

COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture
Commendation – The GPT Group’s Wollongong Central by HDR Rice Daubney

Additional Prizes
IALD Lighting Prize – The GPT Group’s Wollongong Central by HDR Rice Daubney