Sydney practitioner and Emeritus Professor Alec Tzannes AM LFRAIA has today been awarded Australian architecture\u2019s highest honour, the Australian Institute of Architects\u2019 Gold Medal.<\/p>\n
Awarded since 1960, the Gold Medal recognises distinguished service by architects who have designed or executed buildings of high merit, produced work of great distinction resulting in the advancement of architecture or endowed the profession of architecture in a distinguished manner.<\/p>\n
Since founding his own practice in 1982, after working with the NSW Government Architect\u2019s Office and Glenn Murcutt, Tzannes \u2018has executed an exceptional body of work across a broad spectrum of architectural practice,\u2019 the jury noted.<\/p>\n
Tzannes, who was a former National President of the Institute (2007-2008), has given exemplary service and leadership within the profession, academia and related fields.<\/p>\n
\u2018The outstanding contribution Alec Tzannes has made to the architectural profession exemplifies the highest level of achievement within each of the criteria,\u2019 the jury stated.<\/p>\n
Some of Tzannes\u2019 best known projects in Sydney include the Federation Pavilion at Centennial Park, Cathy Freeman Park at Homebush, the Brewery Yard at Central Park and urban furniture for the City of Sydney.<\/p>\n
His most recently completed projects include International House Sydney in Barangaroo and Dangrove, a state-of-the-art museum storage, research, education and logistics facility in Alexandria.<\/p>\n
\u2018Both of these projects embody innovative typologies for contemporary and responsive architecture,\u2019 the jury noted.<\/p>\n
Tzannes is the current Chair of the Australian Institute of Architects Foundation, a member of the UNSW Foundation Board of Directors and served as the dean of the Faculty of the Built Environment at the University of New South Wales between 2008 and 2016. In recognition of his service, the UNSW Council conferred the degree of Doctor of the University, honoris causa on Tzannes in 2017.<\/p>\n
In 2014, Tzannes was named a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his significant service to architecture, as a practitioner and educator and through professional organisations.<\/p>\n
Institute Immediate Past President and Jury Chair Richard Kirk presented Tzannes with the medal at a special ceremony as part of the 2018 National Architecture Conference, the profession\u2019s largest annual gathering.<\/p>\n
\u2018Alec is an outstanding practitioner and academic, and great champion of the architectural profession. It is a fitting to honour Alec in front of his peers, friends and even former students at the profession\u2019s most important event,\u2019 Kirk said.<\/p>\n
The Gold Medal Jury was composed of Kirk (Chair), Past President Ken Maher, Professor Philip Goad, Professor Andrea Nield and Penelope Seidler AM.<\/p>\n
Previous recipients of the Gold Medal include Glenn Murcutt, J\u00f8rn Utzon, Brit Andresen, Harry Seidler and Robin Boyd.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"