ALIA Design Award winners

These prestigious awards were presented at the 2019 Library Design Awards Conference, as part of the Asia-Pacific Architecture Forum at the State Library of Queensland on 14 March 2019. The winners represent some of the best redesigned and newly built libraries in Australia from July 2016 through to June 2018.

Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie), Centenary Library

ALIA School Library Design Award 2019
Winner Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie), Centenary Library

ALIA Academic Library Design Award 2019
Winner Monash University, Caulfield Library

ALIA Public Library Design Award 2019
Winner Shellharbour City Libraries, City Library

ALIA Members’ Choice Library Design Award 2019
Winner Casey Cardinia Libraries, Bunjil Place Library

A commitment to innovative design

ALIA CEO, Sue McKerracher said, ‘the 2019 ALIA Library Design Awards show, once again, that modern library buildings in Australia are world class. We are fortunate in this country to have forward-thinking library leaders, imaginative architects, and councils, universities and school management bodies committed to innovative design. This results in irresistible buildings that tempt people inside to discover the wonders of library collections, creative spaces, and the programs and services that help make a positive difference to people’s lives and study.’ 

The winning libraries received these accolades from the judging panel:

The Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie), Centenary Library, was described by the judges as ‘impressive and an excellent fit with its environment. There is good use of natural light and an appropriate distribution of spaces for different activities’.

The Monash University, Caulfield Library, was described by the judges as ‘visually and physically connected with the campus through its glass entrance and western facade with new accessible ground level access for library users. It is a light, safe and secure focal point for campus users, day and night’.

The Shellharbour City Libraries, City Library, was described by the judges as having ‘a long, elegant and sophisticated facade with a design that adheres to a thoroughly confident and well-researched library strategy’.

The Casey Cardinia, Bunjil Place Library, was described by the judges as ‘a visually striking design with a dynamic interplay of different building materials. Superb timber grid shells and ribbons intersect powerfully with glass resulting in a stunning building, constituting a community centrepiece and a vital asset’.

Casey Cardinia, Bunjil Place Library

Case studies in excellence

The ALIA Australian Library Design Awards have been developed in the context of other competitions internationally, including the American Institute of Architects/American Library Association Library Building Awards and the Danish Agency for Culture Model Programme for Public Libraries Public Library of the Year Award. All the nominees, especially the shortlisted and winning designs, can be seen as case studies in excellent library design for the 21st Century.

The awards were supported by a panel of expert judges; an expert steering committee; our conference speakers; Architecture AU; Raeco; Asia Pacific Architecture Forum; Designing Libraries UK; and the State Library of Queensland.