Jury citation
The 2021 Leadership in Sustainability Prize is jointly awarded to Caroline Pidcock and Tone Wheeler, as they were considered to be inseparable in their contributions. They are founders of the movement in Australia to demonstrate how sustainability can be delivered in the built environment. They are both outstanding in the time, energy and creativity they have provided to the profession and to the broader community over several decades. They have led the profession by showing that there is hope in tackling the structures that impede sustainability and by their involvement in demonstration projects that enable everyone to see that sustainability can be cost-effective, inclusive and beautiful.
By contributing to almost every professional and community-based group in New South Wales that has had a sustainability agenda for the built environment, Pidcock has shown that architects must attack the agenda through civil society. As a result, she has contributed to many government changes in regulations and guidelines, as well as being an effective media spokesperson. She has held academic and professional positions that have enabled her to deliver sustainability outcomes and demonstrate leadership for future generations. She has received many awards at state level and has now earned this national recognition.
Wheeler has contributed to leadership in sustainability in education, research, advocacy, community engagement and policy development on a national level. As an academic and researcher, he has helped to create many of the guidelines for how to achieve sustainability in the built environment, including the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) and the Building Sustainability Index (BASIX). In advocacy, community engagement and policy development, he has become the voice of architecture through his public speaking, media interviews and regular “Tone on Tuesday” column. Via his architectural practice, Wheeler has continued to deliver projects that demonstrate his leadership and to be a contributor to the Australian Institute of Architects.
Jury
Alice Hampson FRAIA Hon. AIA (Chair) – National President, Australian Institute of Architects | Alice Hampson Architect
Jon Clements LFRAIA – Director, Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
Peter Newman AO – Distinguished Professor of Sustainability, Curtin University
Sander de Vries RAIA – Associate, SQC Architecture
Source
Award
Published online: 6 May 2021
Words:
2021 National Prizes Jury
Images:
David Iacano,
Wheeler Studios
Issue
Architecture Australia, May 2021