Council has invited architects to put their best ideas forward for a new mixed-use facility at Suttons Beach. The project will deliver a new building with potential for hospitality spaces, public amenities for beach goers and rooftop public space. Council also invited landscape architects to participate to integrate the new building into the broader Suttons Beach Park area.

Council engaged CityLab as the Professional Advisor for the competition. CityLab is planning and overseeing all aspects of the competition.

To participate in the competition all competitors had to first register with CityLab. Registrations closed on 11 December 2023.

CityLab checked registrations and notified competitors once their eligibility has been verified.

To be eligible, competitors had to include a lead architect who is be able to register as an architect in Queensland pursuant to the Architects Act 2002, have had a registered Australian Business Number (ABN) for no less than 5 years and be registered for GST with the Australian Taxation Office.

The design competition involves two stages:

• Stage 1 - Expression of Interest (Tuesday 14 November - Monday 18 December 2023)
• Stage 2 - Concept Design Development (from early 2024).

Council consulted with the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) to ensure the competition process conforms with the AIA Architectural Competitions Policy and reflects industry best practice.

To deliver to the community the best concept design for the site, all submissions will be assessed by a jury of qualified and experienced architectural design experts. In January 2024, Council announced the team of highly qualified Jury members includes:

• Amy Degenhart, President Australian Institute of Architects, Queensland chapter
• Graham Burrows, Jackson Clements Burrows
• Leah Lang, Queensland Government Architect
• Nathalie Ward, LAT Studios
• Paul Cunningham, Client project director, City of Moreton Bay.

Shortlist Stage Two

The three Competitors shortlisted by the Jury for Stage Two are, in no particular order:

• Arkhefield with Besley Spresser and WILDStudio
• Lahz Nimmo Architects with Plummer & Smith
• m3architecture with Hogg & Lamb, RPS Group and Frank Turquoise.

The competition winner is expected to be announced by mid-2024. Council will then engage the competition winner to deliver the detailed design for the new building and associated landscaping.