The 2025 Lysaght Inspirations Design Awards are officially open, and with them comes the opportunity for Australia’s architectural talent to be recognised and celebrated on a national stage.
We're inviting practicing architects and student architects to showcase their most compelling uses of LYSAGHT® steel building products — from community-shaping regional builds to boundary-pushing student visions.
This year brings a new category focused on sustainability, generous cash prizes across all categories, and the opportunity to have your work recognised at a national level by industry peers and leaders.
The Ultimate Prize
At the pinnacle of this year’s Awards is the Overall Winner prize — two tickets to the 2025 World Architecture Festival in Miami, plus $5,000 in travel vouchers to help get you there. This is your chance to showcase your work on a national stage and gain valuable inspiration from the global architectural community.
Reflecting on Content Studio’s win for the Ned Kelly Discovery Hub project in 2024, team member Alan Chan shared:
“Going to the World Architecture Festival in Singapore was very rewarding. Meeting architects overseas gives you new perspective.”
His colleague Benjamin Chi agreed:
“Going to Singapore was different — often you just get a certificate, but this was a new way of celebrating the achievement. It was great having exposure not just to Australian architecture but to a broader perspective of how the rest of the world is doing.”
Award Categories
The 2025 Awards feature seven distinct categories, each recognising excellence in a different area of architectural practice:
- Overall Winner
Chosen from across all category entries, this prize celebrates the most outstanding and original architectural application of LYSAGHT® steel products. The winning project will demonstrate excellence in both concept and execution. Prize: Two tickets to the 2025 World Architecture Festival in Miami + $5,000 in travel vouchers - Regional Design
Honouring exceptional projects located in regional or remote parts of Australia, this category recognises the importance of design that serves and enhances local communities. Prize: $5,000 - Commercial Design
This category is open to projects in commercial or industrial settings — from retail spaces to factories and cultural hubs — and celebrates innovative, practical design solutions using steel. Prize: $5,000 - Residential Design
From new builds to renovations, this award recognises outstanding use of LYSAGHT® building products in residential settings, with a focus on functionality, creativity, and harmony with the surrounding environment. Prize: $5,000 - Sustainable Design (New for 2025)
Introduced in response to the industry’s growing emphasis on environmentally responsible practice, this new category celebrates architecture that incorporates sustainability through materials, energy performance, and a broader consideration of environmental impact. Prize: $5,000 - People’s Choice Award
Now in its second year, the People’s Choice Award invites the public to vote on a shortlist of eligible entries drawn from across all categories. This award provides an opportunity for the broader community to engage with and celebrate the architectural projects that resonate most with them. Prize: $2,500 - Student Design
Open to students currently enrolled in an accredited Australian architecture program, or those who have graduated within the past two years, this category highlights the next generation of creative talent and gives early-career designers a platform to share their vision with the industry. Prize: $2,500
2024 Student Winner Justin Katsumata Yu reflected on the personal and professional impact of winning:
“Being recognised by professionals in the industry has really boosted my confidence and given me a lot of hope for the future in architecture. The prize money helped facilitate my move from Perth to Melbourne — I don’t think I would have had the confidence to make that leap otherwise.”
Key Dates
- Entries Open: 30 June 2025
- Entries Close: 7 September 2025
- Winners Announced: Week commencing 6 October 2025.
Why Enter?
The Lysaght Inspirations Design Awards are an opportunity to have your work reviewed and recognised by leading voices in Australian architecture. For practicing and student architects alike, they’re a celebration of creativity, skill, and steel — and a moment to elevate your practice.
As Benjamin Chi noted of his team’s recognition in 2024:
“This award felt perfect to celebrate the steel we used… It also gives a lot of confidence internally throughout our team.”
Ready to Submit?
If your project tells a strong architectural story through the use of LYSAGHT® products — whether in steel form, purpose, or innovation — we want to see it.
Submit your entry by 7 September 2025 and take your place among Australia’s most inspiring architectural talent.
To learn more and enter, click here
