Australia’s tall buildings continue to rise up and are being recognised among the world’s best.

The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) has announced the Award of Excellence winners as part of the 2025 edition of its Award of Excellence Program.

All up, 118 awards have been given across 20 categories.

This includes eight Australian projects, which together received 10 excellence awards.

The projects will compete to be winners of their relevant categories at the CTBUH 2025 International Conference in Toronto in October.

One Australian project is Queens Wharf in Brisbane, which has achieved an Award of Excellence in the Best Tall Buildings 200 meters and above (up to 300 meters) category.

Designed by Cottee Parker for the Destination Brisbane Consortium, the $3.6 billion integrated resort development comprises four towers above a 7-storey podium and a 5-level basement.

The towers are linked together about 30 storeys above ground by the iconic Sky Deck, which delivers around 3,500 square meters of elevated public space that is activated with bars and restaurants and offers 360-degree views of the Brisbane River and the city.

The project is currently under construction. Main works are being delivered by Multiplex.

(screenshot from Cottee Parker web page)

In the up to Best Tall Buildings Under 100 meters category, an Award of Excellence has been given to Sydney’s newly renovated Sirius social housing complex which was completed last year.

Designed by BVN and built by Richard Crookes Construction for developer JDH Capital, the project has delivered a redevelopment of a social housing complex that was originally designed in the late 1970s and which overlooks The Rocks district of Sydney Harbour.

The development aims to honour the architectural integrity of the original building’s brutalist structure.

A striking feature of the new building are copper-clad ‘pods’ – balcony extensions which are supported by prefabricated steel structures. These provide new outdoor new outdoor living, capitalise on harbour views and offer a modern interpretation of the concrete modules.

Meanwhile, copper cladding helps to distinguish the new additions from the existing building. This offers visibility in terms of the original building’s brutalist expression, history and evolution.

The copper will age favourably over time and will harmonise with the building’s rugged, signature concrete.

Finally, the building is being integrated back into the local context of The Rocks through a new thoroughfare and public lift as well as the reintroduction of greenery across the site.

Both the Queens Wharf and the Sirius projects have also achieved an Award of Excellence in the Best Buildings Oceania category.

Also achieving excellence in this category were three other (all Australian) buildings: 1 Elizabeth Street in Sydney, 39 Martin Place in Sydney and Indi Sydney.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Australian Award of Excellence projects

Other Australian projects which have received an award of Excellence are as follows.

 

8 Phillip Street (Construction category)

The 8 Phillip Street building in Parramatta has achieved an Award of Excellence in the Construction category.

Designed by Woods Baggot for Coronation property, the 65-storey mixed use building delivers a 250-room QT hotel positioned beneath 314 apartments as well as a signature restaurant, multiple meeting and event spaces and a grand ballroom.

The building aims to create a landmark and craft a unique destination as Parramatta evolves into Sydney’s second CBD.

Its design respects the fabric of the existing St Andrews Church Hall heritage elements. The building form emanates upwards from the existing church spire, hovering over the pedestrian laneways below.

It is crowned and illuminated by a silhouette of which the colours appear to change when seen from different angles.

 

Sydney Metro Martin Place Integrated Station Development (Structure Award)

In the Structure category, the Sydne Matro Martin Place Integrated Station Development has achieved an excellence award for a project that will see the construction of two new buildings above the new underground Martin Place Station which is being delivered as part of Sydney Metro.

This will see a 39-storey (plus rooftop plant) office building above the station’s northern entrance and a 28-storey (plus rooftop plant) office building above building above the southern entrance.

The project is being delivered by Macquarie Group, which has appointed Lendlease as its design and construction contractor.

 

Martin Place Disappearing Access Machines and Transformer Cranes

In the Systems award, the Metro Martin Place Disappearing Access Machines and Transformer Cranes – another award for Martin Place – secured an Award of Excellence.

 

All projects that received the Award of Excellence can be seen here.

 

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