Projects executed for the University of Newcastle and the city of Maitland received top honours at the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2018 Newcastle Architecture Awards.

Located in the heart of Newcastle, the University of Newcastle’s NeW Space building won the most prestigious award of the evening, the Newcastle Jury Prize as well as awards in the Educational Architecture, Interior Architecture and Urban Design categories. NeW Space was a design collaboration between Melbourne practice Lyons and local firm EJE Architecture.

The jury was highly impressed by this ‘vertical university campus’, observing that it was ‘an exemplar of design for new generation learning, urban renewal, and of civic place making, drawing together a complex brief of interlocking educational and public spaces’.

The jury also noted that ‘the University’s strategy of buying prime urban sites in the civic heart of Newcastle has been suitably matched and rewarded by the architects’ detailed site analysis, historical and cultural research and embrace of innovation in education at a global level’.

Another name that stood out at the 2018 Newcastle Architecture Awards was the city of Maitland, which featured in award-winning projects such as a new grandstand at Maitland No. 1 Sportsground, a collaborative effort between the Maitland City Council, NSW Government Architect’s Office and CKDS that won the award for Public Architecture, as well as the refurbishment of the auditorium of the Maitland Town Hall, which was recognised with a Commendation in the Heritage category.

Major award winners at the 2018 Newcastle Architecture Awards included the Brass House by Anthrosite, which won Residential Architecture – Houses (New); the Blue House by Welsh + Major, which won in the Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations & Additions) category; and the Three Piece House by Sydney-based TRIAS, which picked up the Award for Sustainable Architecture and a Commendation in the Residential Architecture – Houses (New) category.

The tiny elevated platform of the North Avoca Studio by Matt Thitchener Architect was the recipient of both the COLORBOND Award for Steel Architecture and a Commendation in the Small Project Architecture category.

The award winners were announced at a presentation held at the Merewether Surfhouse on Friday 23 March. Awarded projects are now eligible for the NSW Architecture Awards to be announced on Friday 6 July 2018.

Full list of winners: 2018 Newcastle Architecture Awards

Newcastle Jury Prize

Award: NeW Space, University of Newcastle by Lyons + EJE Architecture

Public Architecture

Award: Maitland No. 1 Sportsground by Maitland City Council in association with the NSW Government Architect's Office and CKDS

Commendation: Opal Hillside by dwp | design worldwide partnership

Educational Architecture

Award: NeW Space, University of Newcastle by Lyons + EJE Architecture

Award: St Patrick's Primary School, Lochinvar - Stage 1 by SHAC

Residential Architecture – Houses (New)

Award: Brass House by Anthrosite

Commendation: Three Piece House by TRIAS

Commendation: Light House by Jodie Dixon Architect

Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations & Additions)

Award: The Blue House by Welsh + Major

Commendation: Hund Haus by Jodie Dixon Architect

Commendation: Eighty-Four Gordon by SDA

Residential Architecture: Multiple Housing

Commendation: Corlette Street by CKDS Architecture

Commendation: Capri by SDA

Commercial Architecture

Commendation: Newcastle Private Hospital Kingston Extension by dwp | design worldwide partnership

Commendation: Nelson Bay Golf Club by EJE Architecture

Heritage

Award: King Street Adaptive Reuse by CKDS Architecture

Commendation: Maitland Town Hall - Auditorium Refurbishment by Maitland City Council and the NSW Government Architect's Office

Interior Architecture

Award: NeW Space, University of Newcastle by Lyons + EJE Architecture

Commendation: Lyons House by EDH Group Pty Ltd – Architects

Commendation: MJH Group Workplace by SDA

Urban Design

Award: NeW Space, University of Newcastle by Lyons + EJE Architecture

Small Project Architecture

Award: Islington Park by Curious Practice

Commendation: North Avoca Studio by Matt Thitchener Architect

Sustainable Architecture

Award: Three Piece House by TRIAS

COLORBOND Award for Steel Architecture

Award: North Avoca Studio by Matt Thitchener Architect