Joint Venture Architects Woods Bagot and NHArchitecture's Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) has been honoured with four accolades at the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) Victoria Architecture Awards, in addition to receiving the prestigious Victorian Architecture Medal as a "unique project which reveals a number of design ideas that make it a leading project in contemporary world architecture."
Recognising Victoria's most inspirational new architectural projects and the architects responsible for them, the Australian Institute of Architects Victoria applauded Joint Venture Architects Woods Bagot and NHArchitecture's Convention Centre design for its exceptional contribution to sustainable architecture in addition to re-activating Southbank's larger urban fabric.
Receiving the state's top honour - the Victorian Architecture Medal, the Convention Centre has set a global benchmark in sustainable design as the first large public building of its kind in the world to be awarded a six Star Green Star rating by the Green Building Council of Australia.
Furthermore, Woods Bagot and NHArchitecture also took home the William Wardell Award for Public Architecture, the Sustainable Architecture and Steel Architecture Awards as well as the Melbourne Prize.
"Woods Bagot and NHArchitecture are proud to accept such accolades, and it is undeniable the design sensibilities of the building speak for itself," said Nik Karalis, Woods Bagot Co-Principal Design Architect.
"We refused to allow the building to take on the common anonymity of the convention centre."
Photo: Peter Bennetts