Now entering their 51st year in 2026, the prestigious Timber Design Awards celebrate the best in timber design and construction, and provide a national platform to recognise outstanding achievement in the use of timber across the built environment.
Proudly hosted by Timber Unlimited, the Awards recognise the businesses, people and teams who are at the forefront of the timber revolution, using timber to deliver beautiful, high-performance, low-carbon, exemplary projects – from large-scale commercial and public buildings through to residential, interior and innovation-focused work.
Winners will be announced at the Awards Gala Dinner on the Friday, June 26 at the Cordis Hotel in Auckland.
The Timber Delivered Seminar will precede the awards. In this practical, project-led seminar, project and consulting teams will share first-hand insights from recently completed builds that successfully incorporated timber.
Speakers will reflect on what worked, the design and delivery decisions that made a difference, and the key takeaways they take with them to their next projects. Attendees will gain practical tips, honest reflections, and greater confidence to specify and deliver timber on their next project.
For more information on the seminar, visit https://timberunlimited.co.nz/get-involved/timber-delivered-seminar.
2026 Timber Design Awards finalists:
Specialty Award categories
Student Design Award
• Grainform – James Corles, University of Auckland
• The Kaka – Wooyoung Jang, University of Auckland
• reCLAIM | reTHINK | reBUILD – William Nicholas Spalletti, Warren and Mahoney
• Mobilising Aotearoa: Splicing Kigumi with Transportable Housing – Jayson Su, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington
• FALE I NEI, FALE I NA – THE VA BETWEEN US – Ties van Roij, University of Auckland
• Torotika Centre for Urban Ecology – Max Young, Victoria University of Wellington
Interior Design Award
• Northcote College Learning Block – Te Toka Tu Moana – Ignite Architects
• Morrissey Apartment – JCY Architects
• Partridge Jewellers Queenstown – Hannah Davies Ltd
• NZR Co – Context
• Peke Waihanga NZALS – RM Designs
Eurotec Exterior Structure & Landscaping Design Award
• SH 26 Onetai Stream Bridge Replacement – PTL | Structural & Fire
• Y-Shelter – Billy Pengelly, Andrew Barrie Lab and Batchelar McDougall Consultants
• Timber Monogamy – Gregory Mann, Andrew Barrie Lab and Batchelar McDougall Consultants
• Whetuu Maarama Waka – Makers Fabrication Ltd
• Hayman Park Playground: Playtower & Shelter – Athfield Architects Ltd
SPEC Toolbox Innovative Timber Manufacturing & Technology Award
• Conradi Holzhaus – PTL | Structural & Fire
• Wedge Series Research Structures – Andrew Barrie Lab and Batchelar McDougall Consultants
• Whare Mimiru: a seismically resilient timber structure utilising Maori post-tensioning – Anthony Hoete, University of Auckland
• Matahiwi Cabin – Studio Pacific Architecture
• CLT & LVL Manufacturing at Scale – XLAM
Build Anatomy International Project Award
• West Gate Tunnel Project – Timber Nets – Red Stag Timberlab
• Majuro ECC Sports Stadium, Marshall Islands – PTL | Structural & Fire
Excellence Award categories
Abodo Sustainable Development Award
• AUT Tukutuku – Jasmax
• Tinline – Irving Smith Architects Ltd
• Te Hurihanga o Rangatahi/Youth Hub Christchurch – Lewis Bradford Consulting Engineers, Field Studio of Architecture + Urbanism, Naylor Love Canterbury
• University of Auckland B201 – Jasmax
• Tawhaki Nui-a-Hema, Motueka High School Maths & Horticulture Block – Arthouse Architects, Shepperd & Rout Architects, Beca
Te Kahui Whaihanga NZIA Residential Design Award for Single Family Dwelling
• Lavericks Bay Retreat – Studio Now
• Living House – RTA Studio
• Kawau Island House – Novak+Middleton Ltd
• Kapiti House – Studio Pacific Architecture
• Matahiwi Cabin – Studio Pacific Architecture
XLAM Residential Design Award for Multi-Unit Residential buildings (up to 3 levels)
• Summerset Milldale – Summerset Group Holdings Ltd
Nelson Pine Commercial & Industrial Building Design Award
• 211 High Street – Ignite Architects
• Kai Tahi, Porirua – Dunning Thornton
• 90 Devonport Road – LT McGuinness
• Air NZ – Hangar 4 – Studio Pacific Architecture
• Pipiri Lane – Holmes NZ LP
• Peke Waihanga Artificial Limb Service – RM Designs & Engco
Techlam Public & Community Building Award
• Te Whare Hononga – Tennent Brown Architects
• The Pa – University of Waikato – Beca
• Pacific Lakes Village – The Pavilion – Peddlethorp
• Te Ao Marama Whare – Stufkens + Chambers Architects
• Te Whare Whakatere Ashburton Library and Civic Centre – Athfield Architects Ltd
• Whitby Collegiate – Prolam
Red Stag Mid-Rise Building Design Award (over 3 levels)
• 211 High Street – Ruamoko Solutions
• AUT Tukutuku – Jasmax
• 90 Devonport Road – LT McGuinness
• Haven Road Apartments – RM Designs & Engco
Prolam Hybrid Building Award
• BNZ Theatre – Foster Construction Group
• Tinline – Irving Smith Architects Ltd
• University of Auckland B201 – Jasmax
• The Court Theatre – Athfield Architects Ltd
• Te Ara Pounmau Mawhera – RM Designs & Engco
Rothoblaas Innovative Timber Engineering Award
• XFrame Spaces in Meridian Energy’s Wellington Offices – XFrame
• Dallington Bridge – Ruamoko Solutions
• Air NZ – Hangar 4 – Studio Pacific Architecture
• Living in the Trees – Gary Todd Architecture
• Haven Road Apartments – Engco & RM Designs
• Mobile Plant Workshop – Red Stag Timber Ltd
For more information visit https://timberunlimited.co.nz/get-involved/timber-design-awards/2026-tda-finalists.
