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Learning Environments Australasia Design (LEAD) Awards

02 Oct 2026

1957_HilltopsYoungHSLibrary_7HR_Martin Mischkulnig

The Learning Environments Australasia (LEA) Awards are celebrated across Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, and South East Asia.  The LEA Awards recognise the outstanding achievements and collaboration in the design of excellent learning environments. These awards are an opportunity to celebrate the impact of thoughtful, inspiring and innovative design in learning spaces.

Entries into the awards recognise how designers and educators collaborate to shape the future of learning environments; and demonstrate the positive outcomes these have on the end users: the students and their communities. Each entry reflects the commitment to excellence and a vision for a better future for all learners.

The learning spaces can include new buildings, modernisations or renovations, new campuses and outdoor learning spaces or landscapes. Learning facilities can include schools, universities, TAFEs, early childhood centres, specialist facilities or any space where learning takes place. Projects can include those on limited budgets and those large scale works.

The LEAD Awards  - Learning Environments Australasia Design Awards – are celebrated annually and run from November through to March with the results announced in May at the Annual LEA conference during a gala dinner event. This awards program is open to all LEA members. There are also the Chapter Awards which are organised by the local Chapter members and run from July to November. Not every Chapter runs an awards program every year. The results of the Chapter Awards are celebrated at the local Chapter end of year event.

If you are interested in learning more about the LEA Awards or you would like to see the galleries of past LEA Award entries, please visit our Awards webpage.

Phography Credit
Overall Winner 2026 LEAD Awards: Young High School, Hilltops Young High School Library, Campbell St, Young, New South Wales, Australia
Architect:  Hayball
Photographer: Martin Mischkulnig Photographer

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