Best of the Best: Honouring the pinnacle of sustainable design at the Sustainability Awards 2025

At the highest level of recognition in the Sustainability Awards 2025, the Best of the Best category, sponsored by Autex Acoustics, celebrates the most outstanding project of the year. 

Selected from among all category winners, by the jury during our live judging day, this award recognises a project that exemplifies both exceptional sustainable outcomes and excellence in aesthetics or innovative design principles.

Sustainability in architecture is about more than just reducing environmental impact, it is about rethinking the way buildings function, how they interact with their surroundings, and the long-term benefits they bring to both people and the planet. The Best of the Best award is reserved for the project that not only meets but exceeds these expectations, setting a new benchmark for sustainable design.

A winning project in this category will stand out for its ability to integrate environmental responsibility with outstanding architectural vision. It may push the boundaries of energy efficiency, material innovation, or biophilic design while maintaining a striking aesthetic and a meaningful connection to its context. 

Whether through adaptive reuse, net-zero energy performance, or groundbreaking construction techniques, the selected project will demonstrate the highest level of innovation in sustainable architecture.

Recognition as the Best of the Best is the most prestigious honour of the awards, providing national and industry-wide exposure for the winning project. With the Sustainability Awards 2025 bringing together leading architects, designers, developers, and sustainability advocates, this accolade cements a project’s legacy as an example of world-class sustainable design.

As the category's platinum and carbon neutral partner, Autex Acoustics shares this commitment to pushing the boundaries of sustainable innovation. With a focus on high-performance acoustic solutions made from recycled and low-impact materials, Autex Acoustics champions projects that prioritise environmental responsibility without compromising on quality or design. 

Their support of the Best of the Best category reflects their dedication to driving change within the built environment.

If you’d like to be notified when entries open for the 2025 program, click here.

Image: T3 Collingwood byJackson Clements Burrows Architects was last years' Best of the Best / John Gollings, Tom Blachford