Crows Nest has been nominated in the Best Public Building or Social Infrastructure category. Designed at the intersection of large-scale transport infrastructure and a small, village-scaled residential community, the station responds to the character of the surrounding area through material choice and detail. A granite floor tile pattern drawn from the recurring theme of Victorian verandah tiles commonly associated with Crows Nest shifts across the station’s front-of-house spaces, while a palette of brick, steel and concrete ties the building to its local context.

Woods Bagot Principal Lucian Gormley says the nomination recognises the project’s commitment to embedding infrastructure within its urban setting. “The design challenge was creating a station that felt both civic and local. We looked closely at the material character of Crows Nest and used brick, structure and detail to give the building a sense of permanence, warmth and connection to place. It’s rewarding to see that design approach recognised.”

Blue & William has been nominated for Best Office Development. Positioned between North Sydney’s waterfront residential neighbourhood and the rapidly evolving CBD, the building celebrates its locale and spectacular views over Sydney Harbour. Terracotta and brick connect to the heritage of the area and give the building a warmth rarely achieved in a commercial building, while integrated outdoor terraces on half of the building’s workplace floors extend the experience beyond the floorplate. 

Woods Bagot Principal Jason Fraser says the design sought to create a workplace grounded in both performance and place. “From the outset, we wanted Blue & William to feel unmistakably connected to North Sydney. The terracotta facade draws on the area’s historic material palette, while the building’s transparency, natural light and outdoor spaces create a more human-centred workplace experience. This nomination is a testament to the team’s focus on design quality at every scale.” 

Deloitte Adelaide has been nominated for Best Workplace Fitout or Design Project. Situated on the banks of the Karrawirra Parri in Adelaide’s Festival Tower, the workplace draws on organic forms, unadulterated materials and wine-stained pigments that reference local landscape and industry. Custom bronze and timber handles by JamFactory reference the red river gum forest, while rooms have been named in local Kaurna language, grounding the fitout in place at every level of detail. 

Woods Bagot Director Rosina di Maria said the project presented an opportunity to create a workplace with a strong sense of identity. “Embodying the universal values of Deloitte whilst celebrating local context, the latest workplace in the Deloitte portfolio boasts the highest standards in wellness, inclusivity, sustainability and technological innovation.” 

Woods Bagot also contributed to the Sydney Metro City Stations Public Art Program, leading the design and delivery for two of the six stations on the City & Southwest line, integrating major public artworks by Esther Stewart, Dr Bronwyn Bancroft and Rose Nolan into the architectural fabric of the stations. 

Woods Bagot Principal John Prentice says the success of the program came from integrating art and architecture as a single design outcome. “The strongest public art feels inseparable from the place it occupies. Our role was to work closely with the artists to ensure each piece was embedded within the architecture and passenger experience, creating moments of pause, orientation and delight within some of Sydney’s busiest public spaces.”

The 2026 winners will be announced at the Innovation and Excellence Awards Gala Dinner on 6 November at ICC Sydney. 

View the full list of nominees here. 

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Adrien Moffatt
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