What’s happening?
Queensland’s best new homes, public spaces, schools, commercial buildings and community projects have been recognised in the 2026 Queensland Architecture Awards.
The Australian Institute of Architects revealed this year’s winners, with projects showing how design is responding to climate, housing and cost-of-living pressures across the state.
While several Brisbane projects were recognised, the awards also placed strong focus on regional Queensland. Projects from Rockhampton, the Sunshine Coast, Far North Queensland and the Gold Coast showed the depth of work being delivered outside the capital.
Rockhampton was among the regional winners, with the Rockhampton Garden & Zoo Visitor Hub receiving an Award for Public Architecture.
The project was designed by COX Architecture with Design+Architecture and forms part of a broader improvement of one of the city’s most loved public places.
Why it matters?
The awards come at a time when Queensland communities are asking more from the buildings around them.
Homes need to respond to affordability and climate. Public buildings need to be useful, welcoming and accessible. Community spaces need to support growth without losing their local character.
That is why this year’s winners matter. They show how good design can improve daily life, from schools and health clinics to social housing, public amenities and cultural spaces.
Australian Institute of Architects 2026 Queensland Architecture Awards Jury Chair Professor Michael Keniger said this year’s winners shared a strong public purpose.
“The winners of the Queensland Architecture Awards feature many examples of adventurous and ambitious commercial and community buildings that are helping to revitalise Brisbane’s CBD. Projects in this category displayed a high degree of public generosity and embodied perceptive responses to maximise the best aspects of Queensland’s particular climate” said Professor Keniger.
Professor Keniger said the residential winners also challenged familiar ideas about Queensland homes.
“Further, in the residential winners, we saw examples of houses that are reshaping our preconceived notions of the traditional ‘Queenslander’ home and embarking on ambitious new typologies. Some of the most adventurous new houses were located in regional locations and earned significant attention for the quality of construction within their particular settings.”
Education was another strong theme, with several school and research projects recognised.
“A further aspect of this year’s Queensland Award winners is that there is a significant number of imaginatively and thoughtfully designed educational buildings including one of the leading awards for 2026. At the peak of educational architecture is a significant research project that is likely to be recognised for the inventive resolution of its structure and for the research activities that it will house and encourage.”
Local Impact
The award gives state-level recognition to a public project built around local identity, access and visitor experience.
The Rockhampton Garden & Zoo Visitor Hub creates a clearer and more welcoming entry point for the Botanic Gardens and Zoo.
It also improves how people move through the site, with new gathering areas, public amenities, education spaces, a multipurpose room, reptile enclosures and shaded outdoor areas.
The project responds to the Central Queensland climate through shade, open-air movement and raised platforms.
These design choices also help protect the natural setting, including tree root zones and existing site contours.
Its recognition shows that major design work is not limited to Brisbane.
Regional projects are helping shape Queensland’s public spaces, and Rockhampton now has a clear example of that.
By the Numbers
The awards show how widely Queensland’s built environment is changing, from housing and education to public spaces and sustainability.
- Five projects were recognised in Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing, showing housing remained a major focus in this year’s awards.
- Four projects were recognised in Sustainable Architecture, with Landing Bakery receiving the Harry Marks Award for Sustainable Architecture.
- 205 North Quay received three major honours, including the Queensland Medallion, the Beatrice Hutton Award and the Art & Architecture Prize.
Zoom In
The Rockhampton Garden & Zoo Visitor Hub is more than a front door for the zoo.
It gives visitors a stronger sense of arrival, while creating practical spaces for learning, gathering and moving through the site.
The design also connects with the surrounding gardens, using shade and outdoor areas to suit the local climate.
The project includes Zoo Nunthi, an artwork donated by Darumbal woman LeLarnie Hatfield.
The work references the lagoon, crocodile tracks and the pink waterlily, which represents the Darumbal people.
That local connection gives the building more meaning.
It links the visitor experience with place, culture and landscape.
Zoom Out
Across Queensland, the 2026 winners show the scale of work shaping the state across commercial, public and residential projects.
- The Queensland Medallion went to 205 North Quay by Hassell REX Richards & Spence. The project also received the Beatrice Hutton Award for Commercial Architecture and the Art & Architecture Prize.
- Public Architecture winners included Palm Beach Aquatic & Community Centre, Cow Bay Primary Health Care Clinic, Rockhampton Garden & Zoo Visitor Hub and Quandamooka Arts and Cultural Centre.
- Housing was also a major focus, with awards going to Birdwood, Dolphin Court House, Kallara Cabin, 443 Queen St, Inala Infill Apartments and Redcliffe Social Housing.
- Commercial Architecture recognised several major projects, including 205 North Quay, Gindaja Training Facility and Accommodation, Lower Edward Street and Little Lane.
- Queen’s Wharf Integrated Resort Development received a Commendation for Commercial Architecture.
Professor Keniger said the overall program offered a broad view of what Queensland design could become.
“All in all, the 2026 Queensland Architecture Awards program offers a broad spectrum of inviting and purposeful architecture that taken together illustrates the possibilities for an enhanced and vibrant future.”
What To Look For Next?
The Rockhampton Garden & Zoo Visitor Hub may become a strong reference point for future community projects across Central Queensland.
Its recognition shows how public buildings can be practical, climate-aware and connected to local identity.
It also shows regional projects can sit beside major city developments in state-level design awards.
As Queensland continues to grow, the strongest buildings will likely be those that support daily life, respect local places and give communities useful spaces for the future.
