Inside the developments vying for SA’s top urban development honours
Adelaide apartments, Bowden affordable housing and a Virginia Grove community reserve are among the projects shortlisted for the nbn 2026 UDIA SA Awards for Excellence.
The nbn 2026 UDIA SA Awards for Excellence will put some of South Australia’s most ambitious urban development projects in the spotlight, with this year’s finalists showcasing how the state’s housing, design and growth challenges are being tackled across established and emerging communities.
Proudly supported by Major Partner nbn, the Awards Gala will be held at Adelaide Oval on Friday, October 16, with projects competing across 15 categories spanning apartments, masterplanned communities, urban renewal, affordable development, design, social and community housing, marketing and more. Three individual awards and a company award will also recognise leadership and contribution across the industry.
UDIA SA chief executive Liam Golding said the awards would showcase projects responding to the state’s changing needs, particularly at a time when housing affordability and supply remain major issues.
“The Awards showcase the developers and consultants who are stepping up with real solutions that are sustainable, liveable and cost-effective for generations to come,” Golding said.
“With housing affordability and supply remaining front and centre, the role of our industry is critical and will only become more important.”
Among the projects in contention is 200 East by Minuzzo, which is a finalist in the Apartments (Mid-rise) category.
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The eight-level East Terrace development comprises 33 owner-occupier-focused apartments designed as an alternative to traditional family homes for downsizers. The project places an emphasis on generous floorplans, storage, balconies and long-term liveability, while its design incorporates sandstone, travertine and aluminium to respond to its location overlooking Victoria Park.
The project also includes landscaping and public realm improvements, with the developers seeking to create a form of urban infill that connects residents with the parklands and nearby East End.
At North Adelaide, Eighty Eight O’Connell by Commercial & General is a finalist in both the Apartments (High-rise) and Urban Renewal categories.
The 158-residence development is arranged across three residential towers, with each tower operating as its own community corporation. The broader precinct combines housing with healthcare, wellness, retail, hospitality and workplace offerings, including medical and allied health services alongside dining, coworking and other amenities.
The project’s design approach aims to create a higher-density community while retaining a sense of connection and respecting the character and heritage of its North Adelaide setting.
In Mile End, TRENO by Otello is another example of higher-density development reshaping an established inner-city corridor.
The second and final stage of the project has transformed a 1695sqm site on Railway Terrace with apartments and townhouses, responding to the City of West Torrens’ vision for medium and high-density housing alongside retail, commercial and community uses.
Sustainability features include rooftop solar, an all-electric building services approach, biophilic garden atria and a communal rooftop space. The project is also designed around urban consolidation, making use of existing infrastructure while increasing housing diversity.
Over in Norwood, The Osmond by By Sarah demonstrates another approach to adding density within an established neighbourhood.
The mixed-use development incorporates a new home for the Hungarian Club of South Australia alongside five levels of apartments and basement parking. Its design uses recessed balconies, landscaping and a restrained material palette to integrate the building into its prominent urban setting, while extensive planting forms part of the building’s environmental and public-realm response.
Some of the finalists also demonstrate how development can extend beyond housing itself.
At Virginia Grove, Central Lake & Reserve by Lanser has transformed what was required stormwater infrastructure into a community recreation destination. The reserve incorporates a skate park, pump track, basketball court, soccer pitch, playground, fitness equipment and BBQ areas, as well as pathways connecting into a wider 4km fitness loop.
The project was designed to integrate stormwater management, landscaping, recreation and community space rather than treating infrastructure as a standalone requirement.
Affordable housing is another prominent theme among this year’s finalists, with Uniting on Second by UnitingSA recognised in both the Affordable Housing and Social and Community Housing categories.
Developed in partnership with RenewalSA on vacant land at Bowden, the project provides 100 per cent affordable housing, combining community housing rentals with affordable home ownership opportunities. The development is intended to support a diverse mix of residents and household types within a connected urban neighbourhood.
With selected South Australian category winners eligible to enter the UDIA National Awards for Excellence, the October gala will also provide a pathway for local projects to compete on the national stage.
The 2026 awards feature 15 project categories, three individual awards – Women in Leadership, Stuart Main – Young Leader and the Greg Waller Award – and the Diversity in Development company award.
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