The StandardX and Melbourne Quarter Tower have both been shortlisted for the “Commercial Architecture” category of the state awards alongside nine other exceptional projects.

Presentations to juries were held on Saturday 22 March at the Monash University Caulfield campus in the School of Art, Design and Architecture, where more than 200 projects were presented to 60 jurors across 15 different categories. 

From the boutique to the behemoth, Woods Bagot’s shortlisted projects cover the full swathe of potential in commercial architectural achievements. Completed in 2024, The StandardX is a highly contextual commercial hotel that blends into the local fabric

“In designing this hotel, we designed it to be local—to continue the architectural traditions of Fitzroy and sustain the neighbourhood’s artistic and cultural spirit,” said Woods Bagot Director Peter Miglis. Featuring 125 guest rooms, the hotel includes a permeable ground-floor lobby that activates the corner site, with public dining and an onsite bodega.

“Fitzroy’s history of corner pubs, workers cottages, grand housing and industry-inspired our approach to the building’s façades. Weathered steel and concrete are robust, timeless materials that sit comfortably straight away and, over time, will add charm as they patina.”

Meanwhile, Melbourne Quarter Tower is a 34-storey crystalline tower, rising above Wurundjeri Way. This vital project is part of a wider urban regeneration agenda to activate the west end of Collins Street and connect Docklands with the CBD.

“MQT combines form, unique facade articulation and materiality, it’s unique sloping roof and curved façade embracing the public square and shouldering away from the freeway,” says Woods Bagot Principal Hazel Porter. “Maximising the volumetric titles, the tower rises directly over the freeway, returning valuable inner-city space back to the public.”

Other shortlisted projects in the commercial category include 11 Rokeby Street by Carr; 555 Collins Street by Cox Architecture with Gensler; Everlane Cremorne by Fieldwork; 120 Collins Street Revitalisation by Hassell; Decjuba HQ by Jackson Clements Burrows Architects; Melbourne Place by Kennedy Nolan; Office in Collingwood by MGAO; Rosella Cremorne by Rothelowman; and Northern Memorial Park Depot by Searle x Waldron Architecture.

The jury will now undertake site tours of each of the shortlisted projects before a category overall winner is announced at the Victorian Architecture Awards Night in June. Jury for the Commercial Architecture category comprises: John Wardle (chair) of Wardle; Sarah Hurst of FK; Emily Kilvington of NH Architecture; Billy Dong of Metier3 Architects (graduate juror).