2025 marks the second year Zilla & Brook has worked with the Australian Institute of Architects for the Victorian Architecture Awards, the country’s largest architecture awards. This year, the Victorian award had the largest number of entries of all Australian states, and a total of 384 submissions across 15 categories including Sustainable Architecture, Regional Architecture, Heritage, and the popular Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing Category.

Winners were announced on June 27 at the annual awards night event, presenting a total of 19 Named Awards, 21 Architecture Awards, and 17 Commendations by independent juries, across designs demonstrating a commitment to environmental, economic, and social sustainability.

The prestigious Victorian Architecture Medal was awarded to Searle x Waldron Architecture recognising its sustainable and beautiful workplace through the Northern Memorial Park Depot. This project for the Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (GMCT) won the Melbourne Prize and received an architecture award and commendation in the Commercial and Sustainable Architecture category respectively. The two-storey timber operations hub rethinks the traditional industrial truss and reflects the client’s values to create a design for longevity and sustainability.

The campaign reached 120 media hits and $24M in value, landing articles and interviews on platforms such as the ABC, Herald Sun, The Guardian, The Age, Indesign and a wide range of regional media outlets.