The Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design is the annual named award for excellence in urban design in Australia as adjudicated and presented by the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) at their national awards.
Background Definition of the award According to the Australian Institute of Architects Policy No.13 on awards, prizes and honours, Category 9: Urban Design, projects in this category may be 'single structures, groups of structures or non-building projects, studies or masterplans, which are of public, civic or urban design in nature. Awarded projects must have enhanced the quality of the built environment or public domain or contribute to the wellbeing of the broader community.' In addition to the named award, the jury also can present National Awards for Urban Design and National Commendations for Urban Design.
Naming of the award The award is named after United States born architect and landscape architect Walter Burley Griffin (1876–1937), designer of Australia's capital, Canberra. Soon after winning the design competition for Canberra he and his wife Marion Mahony Griffin established an influential design practice based in Australia from around 1914 to 1935.
Change from civic design to urban design The national award was initially established by the RAIA as the Civic Design Award in 1988 and then named as the Walter Burley Griffin Award for Civic Design Award in 1990 and given annually through to 2002. In 2003 the award subject was changed from 'Civic Design' to 'Urban Design' to reflect changes in the architectural profession and the rise of 'urban design' as a specialisation and the more common terminology for architectural and city making projects of larger scale and community or public benefit.
Earlier awards for civic design
In 1959 the Civic Trust Awards were established in the United Kingdom as an awards system to recognise outstanding planning, urban design and architecture. In 1967 the Civic Trust of South Australia was established based on the UK Civic Trust Awards, and is now known as the Australian Civic Trust and although still a registered incorporated association in 2025 it has not been active since 2019.
In 1964 Robert Woodward was presented with the inaugural RAIA NSW Chapter Civic Design Award for the El Alamein Fountain in Kings Cross, Sydney. In 1967 Harry Seidler was presented with an RAIA Civic Design Award for Australia Square.In 1979 the NSW Chapter of the Institute of Architects named the state–based award as the Lloyd Rees Award for Civic Design. In 1980 Jørn Utzon was presented with a RAIA Civic Design Award for the Sydney Opera House.
State based awards for urban design
The Australian Institute of Architects national awards jury selects a national winner each year from a shortlist made of up to eight selected state and territory urban design awards from AIA local chapter awards including; Australian Capital Territory: Sir John Overall Award for Urban Design New South Wales: Lloyd Rees Award for Urban Design (started 1964, named 1979) Northern Territory: George Goyder Award for Urban Design Queensland: Karl Langer Award for Urban Design South Australia: Gavin Walkley Award for Urban Design Tasmania: Dirk Bolt Award for Urban Design (started 2019) Victoria: Joseph Reed Award for Urban Design (named 1997) Western Australia: John Septimus Roe Award for Urban Design
Recipients of state–based awards (including commendatations) are then eligible for consideration for the Named Award, Architecture Award and Commendations for Urban Design presented later in the same year, as part of the national architecture awards. On some occasions state commendations have won the named Walter Burley Griffin Award.
Recipients of Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design Winners of Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design by yearYearArchitect Project Location State Type Other AIA awards 2025Sydney Metro (multiple architects, artists and designers) Sydney Metro City Stations City Line Stations (Sydenham, Waterloo, Central, Gadigal, Martin Place, Barangaroo, Victoria Cross, Crows Nest) New South WalesTransport Lloyd Rees Award for Urban Design, 2025 (NSW) NSW Architecture Medallion, 2025 2024Grimshaw and Andrew Burges Architects with McGregor Coxall Parramatta Aquatic Centre 7A Park Parade, ParramattaNew South WalesRecreationNational Award for Public Architecture, 2024 Sir John Sulman Medal, 2024 (NSW) 2023Lyons with Koning Eizenberg Architecture, NMBW Architecture Studio, Greenaway Architects, Architects EAT, Aspect Studios and Glas Urban University of Melbourne Student Precinct University of Melbourne, CarltonVictoriaEducation Victorian Architecture Medal, 2023 National Award for Heritage Architecture, 2023 Henry Bastow Award for Educational Architecture, 2023 (Vic) Heritage Architecture Award for Creative Adaptation, 2023 (Vic) Joseph Reed Award for Urban Design, 2023 (Vic) 2022SJB, Silvester Fuller, Studio Bright, Carter Williamson, Lippmann Partnership and Aspect Studios Quay Quarter Lanes Circular Quay, SydneyNew South WalesMixed Use Aaron Bolot Award for Residential Architecture, Multiple Housing, 2022 (NSW) Urban Design Award, 2022 (NSW) Lord Mayor's Prize, 2022 (NSW) 2021Lahznimmo Architects and Aspect Studios Sub Base Platypus (Stage 1) 120 High Street, North SydneyNew South WalesHeritage Lloyd Rees Award for Urban Design, 2021 (NSW) Award for Heritage – Creative, Adaptation, 2021 (NSW) 2020Hassell in collaboration with Turpin Crawford Studio and McGregor Westlake Architecture Metro Northwest SydneyNew South WalesTransport Lloyd Rees Award for Urban Design, 2020 (NSW) Commendation for Public Architecture, 2020 (NSW) 2019Chrofi with McGregor Coxall Maitland Riverlink 396 High Street, MaitlandNew South WalesCultural National Award for Public Architecture, 2019 NSW Architecture Medallion, 2019 Sir John Sulman Medal, 2019 (NSW) Blacket Prize, 2019 (NSW) Australian Urban Design Awards, Built Projects – City and Regional Scale, 2019 2018Hassell and Populous Darling Harbour Renewal Darling HarbourNew South WalesCultural Lloyd Rees Award for Urban Design, 2018 (NSW) 2017FJMT Frank Bartlett Library and Moe Service Centre 29 George Street, MoeVictoriaCultural Commendation for Public Architecture, 2017 (Vic) Joseph Reed Award for Urban Design, 2017 (Vic) 2016Lahznimmo Architecture Bowen Place Crossing Bowen Place, CanberraACTPublic Space Canberra Medallion, 2016 (ACT) Sir John Overall Award for Urban Design, 2016 (ACT) 2015Fender Katsalidis Architects NewActon Precinct Acton, CanberraACTMixed Use Canberra Medallion, 2015 (ACT) Sir John Overall Award for Urban Design, 2015 (ACT) Heritage Award, 2015 (ACT) Award for Sustainable Architecture, 2015 (ACT) (for NewActon Nishi Hotel) Award for Interior Architecture, 2015 (ACT) 2014Neeson Murcutt Architects in Association with City of Sydney Prince Alfred Park and Pool Upgrade Prince Alfred Park, Surry HillsNew South WalesRecreation National Award for Public Architecture, 2014 Sir John Sulman Medal, 2014 (NSW) Lloyd Rees Award for Urban Design, 2014 (NSW) City of Sydney Lord Mayor’s Prize, 2014 (NSW) 2013BKK Architects/TCL Partnership Revitalising Central Dandenong, Lonsdale Street Redevelopment Lonsdale Street, DandenongVictoriaPublic Space Melbourne Prize, 2013 (Vic) Joseph Reed Award for Urban Design, 2013 (Vic) 2012Peter Elliott Architecture and Urban Design University Lawn Precinct, RMIT University 377 Russell Street, MelbourneVictoriaPublic SpaceArchitecture Award for Urban Design, 2012 (Vic) 2011Hassell one40william 140 William Street, PerthWestern AustraliaCommercial George Temple–Poole Award, 2011 (WA) Ross Chisholm Award for Commercial Architecture, 2011 (WA) John Septimus Roe Award for Urban Design, 2011 (WA) 2010Hill Thalis Architecture and Urban Projects, Aspect Studios, CAB Pirrama Park, Pyrmont Pirrama Road, PyrmontNew South WalesPublic Space Award for Urban Design, 2010 (NSW) 2009Hargreaves Associates, Lahznimmo Architects and Lacoste+Stevenson Architects Armory Wharf Precinct 1 Jamieson Street, Newington Armory, Sydney Olympic ParkNew South WalesPublic Space Award for Urban Design, 2009 (NSW) Award for Commercial Architecture, 2009 (NSW) 2008Rice Daubney, Allen Jack and Cottier and Group GSA in association with Civitas Urban Design and Planning Rouse Hill Town Centre Main Street, Rouse Hill New South WalesTown Centre Lloyd Rees Award for Urban Design, 2008 (NSW) 2007Grimshaw Jackson Joint Venture Southern Cross Station Spencer Street, Melbourne VictoriaTransport Victorian Architecture Medal, 2007 William Wardell Award for Public Architecture, 2007 2006Ashton Raggatt McDougall Melbourne Central Redevelopment Spencer Street, Melbourne VictoriaMixed Use Melbourne Prize, 2006 (Vic) Award for Commercial Architecture, 2006 (Vic) 2005HPA, PTW, Tropman and Tropman, Bates Smart, Clive Lucas Stapleton and Partners Walsh Bay Redevelopment Hickson Road, Millers Point New South WalesMixed Use Lloyd Rees Award for Urban Design, 2005 (NSW) 2004Ashton Raggatt McDougall Shrine of Remembrance Visitor Centre and Garden Courtyard Birdwood Avenue, Melbourne VictoriaCultural Victorian Architecture Medal, 2004 William Wardell Award for Public Architecture, 2004 (Vic) John George Knight Award (Heritage Architecture), 2004 (Vic) 2004City of Melbourne in association with Taylor Cullity Lethlean (Landscape), Paul Thompson (Planting) and Swaney Draper (Bridges and Federation Bells) Birrarung Marr, Melbourne Flinders Walk, Yarra River, MelbourneVictoriaPublic Space Joseph Reed Award for Urban Design, 2004 (Vic) AILA Award of Excellence in Design, 2003 2003Lab Architecture Studio in association with Bates Smart Federation Square Flinders Street, Melbourne VictoriaCultural Victorian Architecture Medal, 2003 (Vic) Joseph Reed Award for Urban Design, 2003 (Vic) Mahony Griffin Award for Interior Architecture (National Award), 2003 (Vic) 2002Gregory Burgess Sidney Myer Music Bowl Refurbishment Birdwood Avenue, Kings Domain VictoriaCultural Melbourne Prize, 2002 (Vic) National Award for Enduring Architecture, 2009 Maggie Edmond Enduring Architecture Award, 2009 2001University of South Australia(Chris Landorf and David Manfredi) Line of Lode Miner’s Memorial & Visitors CentreFederation Way, Broken Hill New South WalesCultural Urban Design Award of Merit, 2001 (SA) 2000Peter Elliott Architecture and Urban Design in association with City Projects Division, City of Melbourne RMIT University, Urban Spaces Project (Stage One)RMIT University, Melbourne VictoriaPublic Space Joseph Reed Award for Urban Design, 2000 (Vic)1999No Award1998Wood Marsh Architecture/Pels Innes Neilson Kosloff Eastern Freeway M3 Extension (Stage 3) Sound BarriersEastern Freeway, Doncaster, Melbourne VictoriaTransportVictorian Architecture Medal, 1998 (Vic) Joseph Reed Award for Urban Design, 1998 (Vic)1997Denton Corker Marshall Pyrmont Bay Park, Stage 2Pyrmont Point, Sydney New South WalesPublic SpaceCivic Design Merit Award, 1997 (NSW)1996Project Services, QueenslandSpence Jamieson, Alastair Baker Cliffs Boardwalk Stage 2Kangaroo Point foreshore, Brisbane River, Brisbane QueenslandPublic Space1995Edmond and Corrigan in association with The Demaine Partnership RMIT Building 8383 Swanston Street, Melbourne VictoriaEducation Victorian Architecture Medal, 1995 (Vic) Award for Institutional Alterations and Extensions, 1995 (Vic) City of Melbourne Award for Institutional Buildings, 1995 (Vic)1994Tonkin Zulaikha Harford Architects (joint winner)The Rocks SquareThe Rocks, SydneyNew South WalesPublic Building Civic Design Merit Award, 1994 (NSW)1994Williams and Boag Architects (joint winner)Tyne Street RedevelopmentTyne Street, Carlton, MelbourneVictoriaResidential Victorian Architecture Medal, 1994 (Vic)