Sir Roy Grounds Award for Enduring Architecture
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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 36 projects winning the award, after completion of construction, is 37.2 years (1995—2025).
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 FRAIA (Jury Chair) from Philip Leeson Architects, Ken Charlton AM LFRAIA 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 RAIA (Filardo Ercan Architects), Yuri Leong Maish FRAIA (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
| Year | Architect | Project | Location | Year Built | Years Since | Other AIA Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Miles Jakl and Enrico Taglietti and ACME | Former Carousel Restaurant 60 Red Hill Drive | Red Hill Lookout, Red Hill | 1963, 1981 (restored 2024) | 61 years | |
| 2024 | Dirk Bolt | Torrens Neighbourhood Centre | Torrens Place, Torrens | 1967 | 56 years | |
| 2023 | Pegrum/Ciolek Architects | The Chancery | Yarralumla, Government House, Canberra | 1995 | 28 years | |
| 2022 | Robin Boyd | Manning Clark House | 11 Tasmania Circle, Forrest | 1953 | 69 years | |
| 2021 | Clem Cummings | Canberra's Concrete Bus Shelters | Canberra wide | 1975—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 House | Canberra | 1988 | 25 years | National Award for Enduring Architecture, 2013 Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 1989 Canberra Medallion, 1989 |
| 2012 | Daryl Jackson | National Sports Centre Swimming Halls | Australian Institute of Sport, Leverrier Crescent, Bruce | 1984 | 28 years | Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 1984 Canberra Medallion, 1984 RAIA National Award for Design Excellence |
| 2011 | Department of Works | Red Hill Primary School | Astrolabe Street, Red Hill | 1960 | 51 years | |
| 2010 | Robin Gibson and Partners | Belconnen Library | 12 Chandler Street, Belconnen | 1981 | 29 years | Canberra Medallion, 1982 |
| 2009 | Ancher Mortlock Murray and Woolley | CSIRO FC Pye Laboratory (Building 19) | Dickson Way, Acton | 1966 | 43 years | (Demolition proposed 2022) |
| 2008 | No Award | |||||
| 2007 | Edwards Madigan Torzillo Briggs | High Court of Australia Building | Parkes Place, Parkes | 1980 | 27 years | National Award for Enduring Architecture, 2007 Canberra Medallion, 1980 |
| 2006 | John FD Scarborough and Partners in association with Collard Clarke and Jackson | RG Menzies Building (University Library) | Australian National University, Building 2, McDonald Road, Acton | 1963 | 44 years | |
| 2006 | Enrico Taglietti | Paterson House | 7 Juad Place, Aranda | 1970 | 36 years | |
| 2005 | Roger Pegrum | Wilson House | 38 Mirning Crescent, Aranda | 1972 | 33 years | CS Daley Award, 1974 |
| 2004 | No Award | |||||
| 2003 | No Award | |||||
| 2002 | Bryce Mortlock, Ancher Mortlock Murray & Woolley | RAIA Headquarters | 2a Mugga Way, Red Hill | 1970 | 32 years | |
| Michael Dysart | Urambi Village Housing Cooperative | Urambi Village, 81 Crozier Circuit, Kambah | 1977 | 25 years | CS Daley Medal for Housing, 1977 | |
| National Capital Development Commission | Woden residential areas of Hughes, Curtin and Lyons | Hughes, Curtin, Lyons suburbs, Canberra | 1960—1962 | 40 years | ||
| 2001 | Grounds, Romberg & Boyd | Australian Academy of Science (The Shine Dome) | 15 Gordon Street, Acton, Canberra | 1959 | 42 years | Sir John Sulman Medal, 1959 Meritorious Architecture Award, ACT, 1959 Canberra Medallion, 1961 |
| 2000 | Dirk Bolt | Bahr House | 1 Astley Place, Garran | 1967 | 33 years | |
| 1999 | Harry Seidler | Edmund Barton Building | 47 Kings Way, Barton, Australia | 1970 | 29 years | |
| Ian McKay and Partners | Swinger Hill Housing Precinct Stage 1 | Barnet Close, Phillip | 1971 | 28 years | CS Daley Medal, 1977 | |
| 1998 | Sydney Ancher (Ancher, Mortlock and Murray) | Northbourne Housing Group | Northbourne, Avenue Lyneham & Dickson | 1959 | 39 years | |
| Fowell, Mansfield Jarvis & Maclurcan | Anzac Memorial Chapel of St Paul | Corner of Robert Campbell Road & Miles Road, Royal Military College, Duntroon | 1966 | 32 years | ||
| Grounds Romberg & Boyd | Vasey Crescent houses | 42, 44 & 46 Vasey Crescent, Campbell | 1960 | 38 years | ||
| 1997 | Ken Woolley | National Seventh Day Adventist Church | MacLeay Street & Gould Street, Turner | 1971 | 26 years | |
| Rosman Hastings and Sorel (Peter Sorel) | Norwood Park Crematorium | 65 Sandford Street, Mitchell | 1968 | 29 years | Canberra Medallion, 1968 | |
| 1996 | Stuart McIntosh | ANZ Bank Building (former ES&A Bank) | 17 London Circuit, Canberra | 1963 | 33 years | |
| 1995 | Enrico Taglietti | Dickson Library | Anthill Street, Dickson | 1969 | 26 years |
Gallery
- 1995 Award, Dickson Library, opened 1969
- 1999 Award, Edmund Barton Building, opened 1970
- 2001 Award, Australian Academy of Science, opened 1959
- 2006 Award, RG Menzies Building, University Library, opened 1963
- 2007 Award, High Court of Australia Building, opened 1980
- 2010 Award, Belconnen Public Library, opened 1981
- 2013 Award, New Australian Parliament House, opened 1988
- 2014 Award, Apostolic Nunciature, built 1977
- 2015 Award, Burgmann College, built 1971
- 2018 Award, St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, built 1989
- 2021 Award, Canberra Concrete Bus Shelters, designed 1974
- 2022 Award, Manning Clark House designed by Robin Boyd, built 1953
- 2024 Award, Torrens Neighbourhood Centre designed by Dirk Bolt, built 1967
- 2025 Award, Former Carousel Restaurant, 60 Red Hill Drive by Miles Jalk and Enrico Taglietti, built 1963