The Sir Roy Grounds Award for Enduring Architecture is an architecture prize presented annually by the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) since 1995. The award recognises significant, long lasting and innovative architecture with usually more than 25 years passed since the completion of construction.

Background When first established the award was known as the 25 Year Award. In 2007 the award name was changed to the '25 Year Award for Enduring Architecture (ACT Chapter)' and later becoming the 'ACT Award for Enduring Architecture' in 2011, in line with the national awards program and other chapter awards. In 2018 the award became a named award after well known Melbourne based architect Roy Grounds (1905—1981), a Canberra Medallion winner and a two time winner of the ACT Chapter 25 Year Award in 1998 and 2001.

The inaugural 25 Year Award was given in 1995 to the Dickson Library designed by Enrico Taglietti. This was the first instance of an award for enduring architecture to be presented in Australia by any chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects. The inaugural National, New South Wales, Queensland and Victorian awards for enduring architecture were presented eight years later in 2003. The 25 Year Award followed in the tradition of the American Institute of Architects 25 Year Award first presented in 1969.

The average age of the 38 projects winning the award, after completion of construction, is 37.3 years (1995—2026).

National Award Winners

Recipients of this local award are eligible for consideration for the National Award for Enduring Architecture presented later in the same year, as part of the Australian National Architecture Awards.

Two winning projects located in the ACT have won the National Award for Enduring Architecture. In 2007 the High Court of Australia Building by Edwards Madigan Torzillo Briggs won the local and national award 27 years after the building was completed in 1980. In 2013 the new Australian Parliament House by Mitchell Giurgola and Thorp also won both awards, 25 years after opening in 1988.

Jury Citations

2021 Award The Jury for the 2021 Sir Roy Grounds Award was Philip Leeson (Jury Chair) from Philip Leeson Architects, Ken Charlton an architectural historian and Rachel Jackson, principal at GML Heritage.

The 2021 jury citation described the winning Concrete bus shelters in Canberra as having "... architectural integrity and enduring quality of the design is evident through its simplicity, functionality, and materiality. The form of the bus shelter is unique, yet it serves the utilitarian function well, and better still, the shelters were designed to be relocated when required."

2022 Award The Enduring Architecture Award Jury for 2022 was composed of jury chair Eric Martin (Eric Martin & Associates), Nicholas Goodwin (SQC Group) and Anna Leeson (GML Heritage). The award was given to Robin Boyd's 1956 Manning Clark House the same year as another Robin Boyd project was awarded the Jack Cheesman Award for Enduring Architecture for the Walkley House in North Adelaide, South Australia.

The 2022 jury citation described the Manning Clark House that it "...remains remarkably intact and embodies many design features which were innovative for its time, but are now accepted as sound design and sustainable features for modern houses".

2023 Award The Jury for the 2023 Award consisted of Jury Chair Can Ercan (Filardo Ercan Architects), Yuri Leong Maish (May + Russell Architects) and Murray Brown, ACT Chapter Heritage Committee Member.

The jury citation summary states that "The Chancery was opened by then Prime Minister Paul Keating in August 1995 and has since undergone various technological and servicing updates, all integrated seamlessly and considerate of the original design intent. It is a well-maintained building that enhances the integrity of Government House and the significant landscaped grounds on Lake Burley Griffin and is a worthy recipient of the 2023 Sir Roy Grounds Award for Enduring Architecture Award."

2024 Award The awarded project was the suburban shopping centre located in the Canberra suburb of Torrens by architect Dirk Bolt and completed in 1968. The jury citation noted that the roof form is a strong gesture that has created 'a generous sheltered area that invites shoppers to stop and chat.' The jury for the 2024 ACT Awards was composed of John Guida, Craig Tan, Vassiliki Gracik, Sally Farrah and Jessica de Rome (Chair).

Award recipients Sir Roy Grounds Award for Enduring Architecture (reverse order)Year Architect Project Location Year Built Years Since Other AIA Awards 2026 Jackson Walker for NCDCANU School of MusicAustralian National University, Building 100, William Herbert Place, Acton 1976 50 years 2025 Miles Jakl and Enrico Taglietti and ACMEFormer Carousel Restaurant60 Red Hill Drive Red Hill Lookout, Red Hill 1963, modified 1981 (restored 2024) 61 years 2024 Dirk Bolt Torrens Neighbourhood CentreTorrens Place, Torrens 1967 56 years 2023 Pegrum/Ciolek Architects The ChanceryYarralumla, Government House, Canberra1995 28 years 2022 Robin BoydManning Clark House 11 Tasmania Circle, Forrest1953 69 years 2021 Clem Cummings Canberra's Concrete Bus Shelters Canberra wide1975—1995 46 years 2020 Ian Slater Greenwood House Canberra 1975 45 years 2019 Michael Dysart Wybalena Grove (Cook Aranda Housing Cooperative) Wybalena Grove, Cook, Canberra 1974 45 years 2018 Mitchell\Giurgola & Thorp St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church 19 Lhotsky Street, Charnwood 1989 29 years Canberra Medallion, 1990 2017 Harry Seidler Lakeview Townhouses 127 Hopetoun Circuit, Yarralumla 1984 34 years 2016 Laurie Virr Rivendell House 17 Meredith Circuit, Kambah 1975 41 years 2015 Dirk Bolt and Associates Burgmann College Australian National University, 52 Daley Road, Acton 1971 44 years 2014 Enrico Taglietti Apostolic Nunciature 2 Vancouver Street, Red Hill 1977 37 years 2013 Mitchell\Giurgola & Thorp Australian Parliament HouseCanberra1988 25 years National Award for Enduring Architecture, 2013 Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 1989 Canberra Medallion, 19892012Daryl Jackson National Sports Centre Swimming Halls Australian Institute of Sport, Leverrier Crescent, Bruce 198428 yearsSir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 1984 Canberra Medallion, 1984 RAIA National Award for Design Excellence2011 Department of Works Red Hill Primary School Astrolabe Street, Red Hill196051 years2010 Robin Gibson and Partners Belconnen Library12 Chandler Street, Belconnen198129 yearsCanberra Medallion, 19822009 Ancher Mortlock Murray and Woolley CSIRO FC Pye Laboratory (Building 19) Building 19, Clunies Ross Street, Black Mountain Science and Innovation Precinct (off Dickson Way) Acton196643 years 2008 No Award2007 Edwards Madigan Torzillo Briggs High Court of Australia Building Parkes Place, Parkes198027 yearsNational Award for Enduring Architecture, 2007 Canberra Medallion, 19802006John FD Scarborough and Partners in association with Collard Clarke and Jackson RG Menzies Building (University Library)Australian National University, Building 2, McDonald Road, Acton196344 years2006Enrico Taglietti Paterson House 7 Juad Place, Aranda197036 years2005 Roger Pegrum Wilson House 38 Mirning Crescent, Aranda 1972 33 yearsCS Daley Medal, 1974Philip Cox Jerilderie Court Medium Density Housing17 Allambee Street, Reid 197728 yearsCS Daley Medal, 1978 2004 No Award 2003 No Award2002Bryce Mortlock (Ancher Mortlock Murray & Woolley) RAIA Headquarters 2a Mugga Way, Red Hill197032 yearsMichael Dysart Urambi Village Housing Cooperative Urambi Village, 81 Crozier Circuit, Kambah197725 years CS Daley Medal for Housing, 1977 National Capital Development Commission Woden Valley residential areas of Hughes, Curtin and Lyons Hughes, Curtin, Lyons suburbs, Canberra1960—196240 years2001Grounds, Romberg & Boyd Australian Academy of Science (The Shine Dome) 15 Gordon Street, Acton, Canberra195942 years Sir John Sulman Medal, 1959 Meritorious Architecture Award, ACT, 1959 Canberra Medallion, 19612000Dirk Bolt Bahr House1 Astley Place, Garran196733 years1999Harry Seidler Edmund Barton Building 47 Kings Way, Barton197029 yearsIan McKay and Partners Swinger Hill Housing Precinct Stage 1 Barnet Close, Phillip197128 yearsCS Daley Medal, 19771998Sydney Ancher (Ancher, Mortlock and Murray) Northbourne Housing Group Northbourne, Avenue Lyneham & Dickson195939 yearsFowell, Mansfield Jarvis & Maclurcan Anzac Memorial Chapel of St Paul Corner of Robert Campbell Road & Miles Road, Royal Military College, Duntroon196632 yearsGrounds Romberg & Boyd Vasey Crescent houses 42, 44 & 46 Vasey Crescent, Campbell196038 years1997Ken Woolley (Ancher Mortlock Woolley) National Seventh Day Adventist Church MacLeay Street & Gould Street, Turner 197126 yearsHeritage listed 2023.Rosman Hastings and Sorel (Peter Sorel) Norwood Park Crematorium 65 Sandford Street, Mitchell196829 yearsCanberra Medallion, 19681996Stuart McIntosh ANZ Bank Building (former ES&A Bank) 17 London Circuit, Canberra196333 years1995Enrico Taglietti Dickson Library Anthill Street, Dickson196926 years

Gallery

See also Australian Institute of Architects Awards and Prizes National Award for Enduring Architecture New South Wales Enduring Architecture Award Maggie Edmond Enduring Architecture Award Jack Cheesman Award for Enduring Architecture Canberra Medallion 25 Year Award (USA)

References