2026 Australian Institute of Architects National Architecture Awards
We are delighted to share our three entries into the 2026 Australian Institute of Architects Architecture Awards: Lady Norman at Herston Quarter in the Heritage category, and Sanctuary Church on the Sunshine Coast in both Public Architecture and Interior Architecture.
Image above: Angus Martin
Lady Norman For Heritage
Constructed in 1895 as part of Brisbane's former Hospital for Sick Children, Lady Norman is a rare and intact example of Victorian pavilion hospital design. The refurbishment and adaptive reuse conserved the building's original ripple iron ceilings, verandas, fireplaces, and a surviving 19th-century operating theatre with its lantern skylight, while carefully integrating the services and accessibility upgrades required for contemporary life. New interventions are restrained and clearly of their time. The original fabric speaks for itself.
Delivered in collaboration with Australian Unity, heritage architect Ruth Woods, and engineers ADG, Lady Norman now anchors the Herston Quarter precinct as a civic landmark reconnected to its community.
Image: Kian Gee Kee
Sanctuary Church FOR
Public Architecture and
Interior ARCHITECTURE
Set on a 55,650m² site in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, Sanctuary Church is a multi-purpose community destination shaped by its landscape. Mature trees, rolling terrain, and flowing waterways informed every design decision. A steeply sloped site became a guiding opportunity: the building is recessed into the landscape, grounded and accessible, with passive design strategies throughout responding to the subtropical climate.
The 790-seat auditorium, children's ministry wing, cafe, and flexible community spaces were designed to serve the congregation and the wider public alike. The interiors, delivered in collaboration with Arc Assembly, are warm, considered, and built for everyday connection.
Image: James Kinnear
"More than a building, Sanctuary Church is a place to gather, grow, and belong." - Ashley Goode, Senior Pastor
Stay tuned for updates as the awards progress.