Each year, judging becomes increasingly challenging as the standard of entries continues to rise. In 2025, 20 finalists were selected from nearly 50 outstanding submissions spanning an impressive range of structural steel projects. Together, they showcase the versatility of structural steel and the exceptional results that can be achieved when it’s at the heart of design and construction.
“The projects submitted this year demonstrate the incredible skill and creativity within New Zealand’s structural steel industry,” said SCNZ Chair Malcolm Hammond. “From design to delivery, our industry continues to set the standard for innovation, collaboration and excellence in steel construction.”
“Judging this year’s awards was exceptionally challenging, reflecting the remarkable quality of entries across the board,” said SCNZ General Manager Darren O’Riley. “The calibre of work highlights the maturity, sophistication and forward-thinking approach of New Zealand’s steel sector.”
The 2025 Supreme Winner and Category Winners are:
- Supreme Winner and Over $3M Category Winner
Eastbridge & Culham Engineering for Te Ara Pekapeka Bridge
This new traffic bridge provides a vital crossing over the Waikato River in Hamilton. Intricate Māori carvings and patterns transform the 180m-long structure into a sculptural landmark that reflects local heritage. Two 30m-high lattice Y-shaped piers support four lines of box tub girders and a composite concrete deck, delivering a resilient and practical asset for the community.
- $1.5M-$3M Category Winner
VIP Structural Steel for Mixed-Use on High Street
This six-storey mixed-use building makes a bold statement on a wedge-shaped site. With a 10-sided footprint, every floor is unique – demanding bespoke engineering and fabrication. Faceted façades, cantilevers and a complex roof with intersecting planes and folding glazed elements required millimetre precision to align steel framing with architectural geometry and façade systems.
- $500K-$1.5M Category Winner
Eastbridge for Wai Kahua Waka Footbridge
Fabricated in the form of a waka, this new footbridge commemorates 1,000 years of Māori navigation and arrival at Turanganui-a-Kiwa Poverty Bay. It’s a seamless integration of art, culture and engineering – with artistic intent embedded in every structural decision. The result is a powerful example of how structural steel can deliver technical excellence while shaping enduring cultural landmarks.
- Under $500K Category Winner
DHC Consulting Group for Lot 43 Te Arai
This was a complex structural engineering challenge, made possible by the versatility and performance of structural steel. Featuring double-cantilevered roofs that appear to float with minimal visible support, the design was achieved using slender square hollow section columns and long-span steel framing.
- Standalone Residential Category Winner
VIP Structural Steel for Round House
Situated on a remote coastal site on the Banks Peninsula, the Round House is an architecturally ambitious circular home that resembles a cut-off totara stump. Structural steel enabled the concept and is the backbone of the building. The floor-to-ceiling glazing is bonded directly to the curved frame, demanding exceptional precision and innovation in the structure's fabrication.
- Earthquake Strengthening Category Winner
MJH Engineering for Te Matapihi Wellington Central Library
Closed in 2019 due to seismic vulnerability, Wellington’s Central Library has been reborn as a resilient, sustainable and future-ready civic facility. The transformation involved tying new foundations into base-isolated steel-braced frames. More than 1,000 tonnes of structural steel, including custom K-frames and column encasements, turned a flexible structure into one that moves as a single, earthquake-resilient unit.
