Simon Saint in W-B’s Melbourne studio.
Woods Bagot Principal Simon Saint has joined the judging panel for 2026 Architect of the Year Awards for the second consecutive year.
Organised by leading industry publication Building Design, the awards are an annual celebration of the absolute best work being produced and delivered by architectural practices today.
The Architect of the Year Awards have a unique approach as most of the trophies are awarded for a body of work, rather than for an individual building. There are 21 awards up for grabs this year, including the Gold Award, which is chosen from the winners of the project-focused categories, and the Lifetime Achievement award recognising an individual’s long-standing contribution to British architecture. New and updated categories for 2026 include Digital Design Innovation and Optimisation, Public Realm and Placemaking Architect of the Year, Radical Retrofit and Reinvention Architect of the Year, and Regenerative Design Architect of the Year.
Simon has been invited back as a judge for these prestigious awards in recognition of his work across a wide range of sectors and disciplines including workplace, hotels, serviced apartments, and retail, on both architectural and interiors projects. During his career he has focused on residential projects, collaborating with the firm’s global sector leadership to develop Woods Bagot’s approach to residential design. As part of his leadership in the market, Simon has undertaken research into build-to-rent and co-living typologies, becoming a thought leader in design for these growing residential forms.
“I’m genuinely honoured to return as a judge for the Architect of the Year Awards,” says Simon. “After more than a decade in residential design, I’m still energised by the creativity in our industry. I’m especially looking forward to nominations capturing new leaders in our industry. These awards are fantastic for recognising the contributions being made to our built environment by our profession.”
The winners of this year’s Architect of the Year Awards will be revealed at an evening ceremony on Wednesday, 7 October following the conclusion of the Building the Future Conference at Convene Sancroft, St Paul’s, London. This is the first time the awards have been held at this Woods Bagot-designed venue, which opened in 2024.
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