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2026 winners and finalists
Victorian School Building Authority CEO Joanne Wandel and Local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (LAECG) representative Uncle Keith Randall announced the winners at an awards ceremony on 22 October at the Centre for Higher Education Studies.
Thank you to everyone who entered, and congratulations to our winners
First Nations Design
What the community gained
- Two double-storey buildings with administration areas and a library, learning neighbourhoods, STEAM spaces, a canteen, performing arts spaces and a makerspace
- A gymnasium with indoor multi-use court, toilets, change rooms and kitchenette and outdoor hard courts
- A two-room kindergarten that offers 66 places
What the architects highlighted
- How cultural narratives were integrated into façade treatments, screening elements, landscape interventions and learning environments
- Landscape planning informed by local ecological knowledge, including planting selections that support wildlife, reflect seasonal cycles and encourage learning about caring for Country
- An approach to engagement centred on being present, listening and learning, rather than seeking immediate design outcomes
What impressed the judges
- How the designers conducted engagement in relation to a site where it wasn’t clear who the Traditional Owners were on the Country the school was built on
- How the First Nations design elements and artworks are meaningfully and authentically embedded into the school and kinder designs
- The relationships the engagement process forged with local Elders, that the school and communities have continued to develop since opening
Find out more about this project on the Victorian School Building Authority website.
What the community gained
- A new tech school building providing specialist learning opportunities in science, technology, engineering, arts and maths (STEAM) for secondary students
- Labs, outdoor classrooms, breakout and immersion spaces and an amphitheatre that support STEAM learning
What the architects highlighted
- How Bunurong cultural values have informed multiple layers of the project – from the building’s relationship with existing trees and landscape, to materiality, colour, pattern and interior and external learning environments
- How the frequency and timing of meetings with the Bunurong Land Council enabled expectations around the built outcome to be discussed and managed progressively
- The opportunity to connect the Tech School learning model of inquiry, experimentation, observation and learning to the roles First Nations Peoples held as the first scientists, navigators, innovators and conservationists of the Country the site now occupies
What impressed the judges
- The consultation process and the co-design process was conducted meaningfully and with intention, which ultimately translated into the ways First Nations design elements emerge subtly and run throughout the whole building
- The way the curved building form responds to and retains mature eucalyptus trees, strengthening connection to Country while also creating an outdoor learning and yarning space
Find out more about this project on the Victorian Government Education and Training webpage.
What the community gained
- The Early Learning Victoria Wirmal early learning and childcare centre in Clunes
- The Early Learning Victoria Barribina early learning and childcare centre in Teesdale
- The Early Learning Victoria Thookay Yarkeen early learning and childcare centre in Portland South
What the architects highlighted
- Three early learning childcare centres where First Nations culture runs through each building's story: Wirmal's gathering circles and Powerful Owl motifs, Thookay Yarkeen's eels and animal doorways drawn from Gunditjmara's coastal Country, and Barribina's platypuses, turtles, and Bunjil storytelling from Wadawurrung Country
- An approach prioritising early engagement, cultural education, and shared authorship, so every space is created with community, for community
What impressed the judges
- Bespoke engagements across the three projects that reflect what authentic consultation looks like at scale: not a single template applied three times, but three genuine relationships, each shaped by its own Traditional Owner group's protocols, pace, and preferred way of working
- The depth and breadth of engagement with the Traditional Owner groups that other design teams could look to as a guide for how to carry out engagement
Find out more about this project on the Victorian School Building Authority website.
New kindergarten or early learning facility
What the community gained
- Forming part of an integrated campus with St Carlo Acutis Catholic School, the children’s hub created Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) facilities, as well as kindergarten rooms and spaces that can be used for school, community gatherings and parent events
- A covered waiting area external to the main entry, enclosed for the safety of children
- Shared spaces connected to the main children’s rooms that provide opportunities for young learners to engage in activities such as reading, art, kitchen play and dress-up
What the architects highlighted
- The connection between the children’s hub and school – both share play areas, as well as a vehicular entrance and parking
- Connecting the building to its site through the use of locally made brick, and the history of St Carlo Acutis Catholic School – with brickwork that references the Church of Maria Maggiore in Assisi, the resting place of Carlo Acutis
What impressed the judges
- The overall functionality of the spatial layout, in particular the building’s corridor which creates spaces that give children a place to pause
- The thoughtfulness of positioning the kinder and preschool on the bottom floor and the OSHC facility above it in a way that creates a strong public presence
- The response to the site’s constraints in a manner that maximises natural light
Find out more about this project on the Victorian School Building Authority website.
What the community gained
- The refurbishment of five classrooms and adjoining outdoor learning deck spaces into early learning facilities
- A new accessible entry, which has grown to become a point of interest since the construction was completed
What the architects highlighted
- A project strategy designed to maximise the impact of the works – keeping plumbing and services where they already existed, minimising demolition and only changing walls and doors if it could create a significant improvement in how the space could be used
- How design decisions were made in service of a practical result, demonstrating the consideration and understanding of the Montessori teaching method
- Creating classrooms that empower students to be able to choose where and how they do their work
What impressed the judges
- The careful consideration that went into linking the design with learning outcomes and the Montessori Method
- How the relatively modest project budget has created a warm and welcoming environment, delivering value-for-money while still giving the space a real lift
- The way the project thoughtfully responds to the unique challenge of converting existing school spaces into kinder spaces, and in doing so creates an example that other architects can use for similar projects
Find out more about this project on the Victorian School Building Authority website.
What the community gained
- A 130-place early learning centre in Weir Views, co-located with Murrum Primary School, that features five rooms for children aged 0 to 3, and two integrated kinder rooms delivering kinder programs for children aged 3 to 6
- A multi-purpose community room designed to host playgroups and community meetings, as well as a consulting room where child and family services, including maternal and child health and allied health, can be provided on site
What the architects highlighted
- A consolidated central outdoor play space accessed directly by all the centre’s rooms that is helping to connect all the children across the centre
- Design choices that maximise the benefits of the centre’s co-location with the primary school and support everyday collaboration between early years educators and Prep teachers
What impressed the judges
- The architectural choices made in response to the centre’s position in a bushfire-prone area, and how the added durability of the non-combustible brick and lightweight metal sheet cladding used externally will reduce the long-term maintenance required
- The welcoming and inclusive design of the community facilities to help ensure the centre will optimise its value as a community asset
- The careful consideration of security across the centre as a key aspect of the design, balancing creating a safe environment while building a sense of welcome and openness
Find out more about this project on the Victorian School Building Authority website.
Small school project – value below $5 million
What the community gained
- Eight contemporary learning spaces, complemented by shared learning areas, breakout and meeting spaces that provide valuable areas for targeted teaching, small-group learning, student support and professional collaboration
- External renovations focused on revitalising the heart of the school
What the architects highlighted
- A design that rethinks how the large, open-plan spaces could be retrofitted and updated to align with contemporary pedagogy
- How the project has created a flexible environment that supports a range of teaching and learning approaches
- Carefully considered acoustics that enable students to collaborate without significantly disrupting neighbouring learning activities, helping to create a sense of openness and connection while still allowing teachers to maintain calm, purposeful learning environments
What impressed the judges
- The forward-thinking approach of the designers. The project tackles sustainability challenges that the industry will need to work with more, and creates a model that similar buildings across the state could use
- A commitment to adaptive re-use and refurbishment that ultimately saw the project delivered under budget
- The use of geometric pavilions, and the decision to make the most of them as a design element
Find out more about this project on the Victorian School Building Authority website.
What the community gained
- A new administration and staff facility framing the school’s primary entry on Armstrong Road. The building features a reception point, core facilities, general office, storage, communications and first aid rooms surrounded by a perimeter of meeting spaces, leadership offices, and staff facilities
- A refreshed entry forecourt, and a sensory garden space for students
What the architects highlighted
- Positioning Wurundjeri manna gums, golden wattles and Yarning circle at the front gate, placing dialogue, consultation and recognition of Wurundjeri People and Country at the front and centre of the school
- How the project embraces best-practice environmentally sustainable design strategies
- Constructing the building adjacent to the main school building and central to the school site to optimise circulation and teacher overview of students
What impressed the judges
- How the building anchors the site – it’s a proud, beautiful structure that is integrated well into its surroundings
- The project has delivered a new ‘front door’ to the school that’s welcoming to the community
- The thoughtful way designers consolidated services to reduce asset lifecycle costs
Find out more about this project on the Victorian School Building Authority website.
What the community gained
- A new, purpose-designed junior years learning and administration building that replaced the original LTC building
- Learning environments that incorporate passive design principles, including access to natural light and ventilation, to support student comfort and reduce reliance on mechanical systems
What the architects highlighted
- How the project was so much more than providing a new building, it was a way to encourage a community to embrace change when the existing school buildings were deeply embedded in its identity and history
- A fulsome approach to community consultation to ensure the new school environment would be seen by the community as an investment in its future
- Design choices that celebrate a domestic scale and materiality that both belongs to its neighbourhood, and creates a durable setting for everyday school life
What impressed the judges
- The thoughtful ways the school community’s needs were reflected in a design response
- The manner in which a design approach that favoured longevity, maintenance and value for money created a structure that felt immediately familiar within the landscape
- How prioritising connection and belonging delivered a building that has supported positive change within the school community
Find out more about this project on the Victorian School Building Authority website.
Medium school project – value between $5 million and $15 million
What the community gained
- A competition-grade gymnasium designed for both basketball and netball, with tiered seating for at least 110 spectators
- Two flexible learning areas that open directly to outdoor spaces
- Unisex toilet and shower facilities for students and staff that are easily accessible from both the indoor court and outdoor play areas
What the architects highlighted
- How the design delivered on the school’s desire to establish themselves as community hub and to promote a sense of whole community belonging
- The stadium’s celebration of First Peoples culture through artworks by Amina Briggs, including a centre-circle design on the basketball court and a large entrance mural that connect with her artworks across the wider campus
- Spaces that address the school’s needs for more flexible learning spaces, as well as meeting and wellbeing areas
What impressed the judges
- A sculptural, bold design that has a warmth and character not always achieved when delivering school gyms
- The links between the gym, food hub and music facilities that will deliver on the school’s goal to strengthen their ties to the local community
- Clever colour choices that help to create a really nice identity throughout the new spaces
Find out more about this project on the Victorian School Building Authority website.
What the community gained
- A new covered outdoor space at the heart of the school, designed to connect existing staff, community and physical education facilities through a flexible, central covered plaza
- A highly flexible senior hub, capable of being configured to simulate a range of real-world settings and support senior students to better develop independent living skills
What the architects highlighted
- The covered outdoor learning area responds directly to the absence of a large, flexible collective space at school, and provides a facility capable of supporting assemblies, community events, and outdoor play during hot or wet weather
- Adaptive design choices to ensure the buildings could cater to students’ individual learning needs, rather than imposing a fixed model
- A use of robust, durable and straightforward materials, designed to ensure the buildings are practical to manage and maintain
What impressed the judges
- The design of the covered outdoor learning area – one of the most visually impressive examples of this type of structure in a school setting
- The beautiful pitched roof of the covered outdoor learning area and a great use of colours that contribute to a sense of majesty throughout the new spaces
- The materials used in the covered outdoor learning area demonstrate a focus on reducing sound reverberation and give the space a warmth and quality more typically associated with an interior environment
Find out more about this project on the Victorian School Building Authority website.
What the community gained
- A new building with administration and professional learning facilities, five general-purpose classrooms arranged around a multipurpose learning area, a library, STEAM spaces, small-group learning areas, wellbeing facilities, storage and staff space
- Refurbishments to an existing building to better support STEAM, cooking and technology functions
- New landscaped spaces, a new pathway network and a revitalised amphitheatre
What the architects highlighted
- A design for the new building that wraps around the mature oak tree at the centre of the school
- The reuse of 59 existing concrete bored piers, significantly reducing new structural work and associated cost
- Refreshed learning environments that allow multiple teachers and education-support staff to work collaboratively across shared spaces
What impressed the judges
- A climate-resilient design that celebrated the robustness of the chosen construction materials
- The design didn’t just create new space, but transformed space that wasn’t being effectively used
- An innovative approach to re-purposing materials that delivered value-for-money for the school, allowing more tender options to be incorporated into the project
Find out more about this project on the Victorian School Building Authority website.
What the community gained
- A refurbished middle secondary building with an additional five learning bases, two resource-intensive learning areas and staff work areas to a new east wing
- Two learning base spaces in the new western wing
- New external learning environments, including active and passive zones and play spaces
What the architects highlighted
- Clerestory and openable windows and strategically placed glazing throughout the new spaces that allow an abundance of daylight into the new classrooms and breakout zones without distracting from student learning
- A new classroom structure with direct access to retreat spaces for self-regulation
- The location of breakout zones and external environments that reinforces students and teacher’s ability to meaningfully engage with the spaces
What impressed the judges
- The cohesiveness of the design – how it provides a sense of fluidity throughout the refurbished building, but created nooks and spaces that provided the sense of protection, as well as spaces for respite and separation
- The clear ways the design of the new spaces better enables more inclusive teaching and learning
Find out more about this project on the Victorian School Building Authority website.
What the community gained
- A new senior learning hub designed to support students with diverse and complex needs
- A range of teaching environments that enable varied learning modes including direct instruction, collaboration, quiet retreat and group work
- Sensory spaces, small group rooms and accessible amenities
What the architects highlighted
- Rather than reinforcing the traditional boundary between Peninsula Specialist and Dromana Secondary, as part of this project fencing was removed to create a shared covered outdoor learning space that supports inclusion, transition and community connection
- A design that carefully responds to the site's significant physical and environmental constraints
- Teaching spaces and circulation areas are oriented to provide students with continual visual connection to nature
What impressed the judges
- The senior learning hub’s design contributed to it being a very calm and dignified building, with an innate wayfinding feel to it
- The commitment of the designers to harness architecture to promote independence amongst the Peninsula Specialist College student body
- The operational efficiencies that can be achieved as a result, since the building effectively links Peninsula Specialist College and Dromana Secondary College
Find out more about this project on the Victorian School Building Authority website.
Large school project – value above $15 million
What the community gained
- A new STEAM building and science block that includes a library, science hub, arts and graphics hub, and maker space
- A food technology precinct that allows students to move between productive gardens, food preparation, dining, presentation and composting
- An administration area, junior school classrooms and canteen housed within a single-storey building
What the architects highlighted
- The project’s transformation of a loose collection of temporary facilities into a coherent, contemporary and outward-looking learning environment
- Prioritising flexible design choices that reduce reliance on separate dedicated spaces and give the school greater operational choice within the same building area
- The significant effort invested in sourcing reclaimed brickwork to reinforce the relationship between the new facilities and Benalla’s regional character
What impressed the judges
- The careful consideration given to embedding learning into the college’s architecture and site
- How the interiors, and activated common areas, create teaching and learning value
- A design approach that creates a unique identity for the college, reshaping how students, staff, families and visitors understand the school
Find out more about this project on the Victorian School Building Authority website.
What the community gained
- A new school that can accommodate 715 students from Prep to Grade 6, including 65 students with disability
- The campus features learning neighbourhoods, specialist support spaces, a community bub with gymnasium, administration building and outdoor learning areas
- It also has sensory rooms, exercise therapy spaces, pressure pole areas, breakout nooks, maker spaces and kitchenettes
What the architects highlighted
- A design that draws upon, and balances, the enduring cultural and environmental significance of Bunurong Country, the emerging suburban condition of Melbourne’s south-east growth corridor and the surrounding area’s colonial agricultural past
- Strengthening cost-effectiveness through repetition of key structural and spatial elements, in particular a modular ‘kit of parts’ approach for the learning neighbourhood
- First Peoples design principles that informed sustainable systems, culturally responsive learning spaces and landscape strategies that care for Country
What impressed the judges
- The public and civic feel of the school’s façade, and a design that announces the school
- How the design reinforces the school leadership’s commitment to creating strong connections with the local community, in particular the placement of the community hub on the site boundary to make it as welcoming as possible
- The warm and welcoming interiors
Find out more about this project on the Victorian School Building Authority website.
What the community gained
- Bulukuyt, a new three-storey building for senior students, located on the school’s netball courts on the corner of Miriam St and Booran Rd
- Renovations to the school’s Language Centre
What the architects highlighted
- Spaces to support a range of learning styles and activities, from focused individual work to collaborative group projects, reflecting the more independent, self-directed approach expected of senior secondary students
- Sustainability initiatives, including solar energy, rainwater tanks and the all-electric, gas-free services that support the building's long-term environmental goals while reducing operating costs
- A design response that reflects the college’s values of growth, care, equity and respect, that has seen students demonstrate an increased engagement in their learning since opening
What impressed the judges
- The positioning of the building and the way it presents senior students with a look into the neighbourhood, but also the future beyond them
- The simplicity of the layout enhances wayfinding, and the design maximises the amount of teaching spaces
- How the presence of the new building gives the school a more mature feel
Find out more about this project on the Victorian School Building Authority website.
Minister’s Award
This special award recognises an outstanding design or a unique entry that doesn’t neatly fit into any of the standard award categories.
What the community gained
- A central two-storey playspace structure that offers sun, shade and all-weather protection
- An outdoor education space with stepped seating
- Play equipment to encourage active, cognitive, emotional, sensory and social play
What the architects highlighted
- The depth of collaboration with the school community ahead of establishing a project brief for a truly accessible playspace where every child can experience a sense of belonging and independence
- A design that thoughtfully incorporates natural materials, earthy colours, and organic features
- The educational benefits of the playground – how it has become a dynamic learning environment that helps to foster self-confidence, inspires curiosity, conversation, and discovery
What impressed the judges
- The level of consultation that went into the project, and how the architects delivered on the brief
- Situating a playground at the centre of the school was described as a ‘genius’ decision during the judge’s deliberations
- How the playground creates an entire sensory experience for students, and a space where they can explore and have fun, while also gaining confidence associated with taking safe risks
Find out more about this project on the Victorian School Building Authority website.
Victorian School Design Awards honour roll
The annual Victorian School Design Awards recognise the creative role architects are playing in the record expansion and modernisation of our state education network.
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