Jack Cheesman Award for Enduring Architecture

The Jack Cheesman Award for Enduring Architecture, formerly known as the 25 Year Award is an architecture prize presented annually by the South Australia Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA).

History
The inaugural award was given in 2005 and was known as the 25 Year Award until at least 2011. The average age of the 16 projects recognised to 2024 is 36.6 years from completion of construction to year of award. The award was issued every second year from 2005 until 2013, and has been awarded annually since 2014 (see table below).

Description
The award recognises significant, long lasting and innovative architecture with usually more than 25 years passed since the completion of construction. The Enduring Architecture Award recognises achievement for the design of buildings of outstanding merit, which have remained important as high quality works of architecture when considered in contemporary cultural, social, economic and environmental contexts in South Australia. Nominations for the award can be made by AIA members, non–members and non–architects, but must provide adequate material and information supporting the nomination for consideration of the jury.

National Awards
Recipients of the state–based award are eligible for consideration for the National Award for Enduring Architecture presented later in the same year, as part of the Australian National Architecture Awards. As of 2023 no South Australian projects had received a National Award for Enduring Architecture.

2007 award
When awarding the second award to Newell Platten for Dr Kent's Paddock in 2007, the jury citation read; "The 25 Year Award is not given lightly and it has been two years since it was last awarded — but the Jury's views were unanimous. Dr Kent’s Paddock, more that any other project of its time embodies the virtues of this award — a project of considerable influence for its time and place, and one that has stood the test of time. All the more potent is that it was carried out by the most venerable of South Australia’s institutions, the South Australian Housing Trust, its role now incorporated within Housing SA".

2022 award
The Jury for the 2022 award was composed of Honours Committee members Anthony Coupe, David Hassell, Rob Cheesman, Lolita Mohyla, Tony Giannone, Elaine Davies and Lu Balsamo. The award was given to Robin Boyd's Walkley House built in North Adelaide in 1956.

2023 award
The Jury for the 2023 award was Anthony Coupe, Chris Morley, Elaine Davies, Lolita Mohyla, Lu Balsamo and Rob Cheesman. The award was given to the Adelaide Festival Centre by Hassell, opened in 1973. The jury citation described the project saying "The Adelaide Festival Centre is not only instantly recognisable, it also represents an important period in South Australian history and is integral to our identity as the Festival State. Buildings that achieve all these things at once are rare, and for the Festival Centre to have done so for 50 years is truly worthy of celebration."