Ipswich’s Nicholas Street Precinct has added an international accolade to its list of industry recognition, winning Silver in the wayfinding category at the Better Future World Design Awards 2026. The win follows five major awards received by the precinct throughout 2025, spanning property, construction, hospitality and urban design.
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The Better Future World Design Awards draw entries from the world’s largest network of design award programs, covering regional, sector and design capital competitions. The awards recognise the work of both commissioning clients and design professionals on built environment projects.
The Nicholas Street Precinct was recognised in the wayfinding category for a design that, according to the award’s project brief, supports intuitive exploration of the revitalised area, helps users navigate independently, fosters a sense of place, and extends the experience of the surrounding urban environment. The precinct recorded more than two million visits over the past year.
The $311 million precinct includes a council administration building, two libraries, Tulmur Place civic square, a zero-depth water play area, and a range of dining and entertainment venues.
The 2026 World Design Silver follows a series of awards received by the precinct throughout 2025. The Property Council of Australia named the precinct winner of the Best Public Building or Social Infrastructure Development Award at its 2025 Innovation and Excellence Awards. At the 2025 Urban Developer Awards, it took out Development of the Year in the Urban Regeneration category.
The Venue Building was awarded Best Commercial Refurbishment/Renovation over $30 million at the 2025 Master Builders Queensland Awards. The precinct’s wayfinding design had already earned a Gold medal at the 2025 Better Future Melbourne Design Awards — in the same category that has since been recognised at the world level. The Hotel Commonwealth, located within the precinct, was named Best Redeveloped Hotel in the General Division at the 2025 Queensland Hotels Association Awards.
Prior to 2025, the precinct received the Queensland Minister’s Award for Urban Design and the Movement and Place Award in 2024, along with multiple industry awards dating back to 2021.
Read: Two Million Visits Mark Revitalised City Precinct in Ipswich
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding described the Silver award as an honour for the city, saying the precinct represented a triumph of urban renewal and a model for people-first public spaces, where pedestrians are prioritised over vehicles.
Published 24-February-2026
