2024 LENZ Awards

Celebrating Excellence: 2024 LENZ Chapter Awards Shine a Spotlight on Innovation and Cultural Engagement in Educational Design

On Wednesday 20 November 2024, the Learning Environments New Zealand (LENZ) Chapter celebrated its biennial Chapter Awards for Excellence in Educational Facility Design, with concurrent events held in Auckland and Wellington and a live-stream connection from ISTHMUS’s Auckland office.

This year, we were thrilled to receive 13 inspiring submissions, showcasing the incredible range of talent and vision in educational design across Aotearoa New Zealand. Our heartfelt thanks go to the esteemed jury panel - Murray Robertson (Chair), Helen Anderson, and Rameka Alexander-Tu'inukuafe - for their commitment and insight.

New to the 2024 Awards, we introduced the Cultural Engagement Award, designed to honour projects that embrace cultural, historical, and community narratives to foster inclusivity. This award recognises spaces that demonstrate collaboration with tangata whenua and reflect Te Ao Māori principles, cultural storytelling, and a strong connection to place.

Taking top honours this year was Maraetai Beach School - New Teaching Block, designed by Ignite Architects and photographed by Mark Scowen. This outstanding project was highly acclaimed, winning the Overall Chapter Awards and Category 4: New Building/s or Facilities - Small. The judges praised the project’s innovative design, cultural sensitivity, and the ways it fosters community and learning.

A huge congratulations to all our winners and commendations and a sincere thank you to everyone who submitted their projects. Your dedication and creativity in designing outstanding learning spaces are inspiring.

We look forward to seeing your work in the 2025 Learning Environments Australasia Design (LEAD) Awards, now open for entries!

Winners and Commendations

OVERALL WINNER

• 🏫 Maraetai Beach School - New Teaching Block
• 📐 Ignite Architects
• 📷 Mark Scowen

**NEW AWARD** Cultural Engagement Award

• Winner
  • No winner awarded
• Commendation
  • 🏫 Te Kura o Manunui
  • 📐 ASC Architects
  • 📷 Cab Creative

Category 1: An Innovative Education Initiative

• No entries received

Category 2: New Campus with Educational Facilities

• Winner
  • 🏫 Marian College at Mahutonga
  • 📐 Sheppard & Rout Architects
  • 📷 Sarah Rowlands Photography
• Commendation
  • No commendation awarded

Category 3: New Building/s or Facility/s - Large

• Winner
  • 🏫 Onehunga Primary School
  • 📐 Jasmax
  • 📷 Jasmax
• Commendation (Joint)
  • 🏫 Massey Innovation Complex
  • 📐 Athfield Architects
  • 📷 David St George
• Commendation (Joint)
  • 🏫 Macleans College - Science and Technology Development
  •  📐 Pacific Environments NZ Ltd
  • 📷 Barry Tobin + Mark Scowen

Category 4: New Building/s or Facility/s - Small

• Winner
  • 🏫 Maraetai Beach School - New Teaching Block
  • 📐 Ignite Architects
  • 📷 Mark Scowen
• Commendation
  • No commendation awarded

Category 5: Modernisation - Large

• Winner
  • 🏫 Waipapa Taumata Rau University of Auckland B201 Redevelopment
  • 📐 Jasmax
  • 📷 Jasmax
• Commendation
  • No commendation awarded

Category 6: Modernisation - Small

• Winner
  • 🏫 Wairakei School Administration Block
  • 📐 Isthmus
  • 📷 David St George
• Commendation
  • No commendation awarded

Category 7: Small Project Under AUD $2 Million

• No entries received

Category 8: Landscaping/Outdoor Learning Area

• No entries received