2025 A+Awards Finalists: Global Creativity, Local Impact

Local Innovation Meets Global Vision

Architizer’s 2025 A+Awards shortlist is here, and it’s a testament to how architects around the world are reinventing our built environment. From soaring airport terminals to subterranean libraries, this year’s 618 finalists (chosen from over 4,000 entries across more than 80 countries) prove that the best design is equal parts global ambition and local flair.

Sustainability and Impact Take Center Stage

What really stands out about the 2025 finalists is how they tackle big picture issues—climate change, rapid urban growth, social equity—while staying deeply rooted in their communities. Think of Perth Museum in the UK (Mecanoo), where each gallery nods to Western Australia’s rugged coastline, or the Aquifer Recharge Plant in Cape Town (SALT Architects), which channels centuries old water harvesting wisdom into a modern treatment facility. These projects show that when designers respect local materials, traditions, and landscapes, their work resonates far beyond its immediate neighborhood.

A Snapshot of Standout Finalists

Architizer’s Sustainability Awards set the bar high, rewarding projects that weave eco friendly strategies into every corner of their designs. The Rwanda Institute for Conservation (MASS Design Group) does just that—its green roofs and natural ventilation pay homage to Rwanda’s flora and inspire environmental stewardship. Meanwhile, adaptive reuse wins—like Library in the Earth (Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP), a reading room nestled in an excavated hillside—remind us that giving old structures new life can be as radical as building from scratch.

Here are ten projects that caught the jury’s eye for form, function, and that special spark of creativity:

• Apple The Exchange TRX (Foster + Partners, Kuala Lumpur): A tech hub wrapped in sky high façades and lush terraces.
• Library in the Earth (Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP, Japan): A cozy, daylight lit retreat carved into the ground.
• Perth Museum (Mecanoo, UK): Galleries shaped by coastal rock formations and local storytelling.
• Portland Intl Airport Expansion (ZGF Architects, USA): A breezy, light filled terminal that feels more park than airport.
• Academia Atlas (Sordo Madaleno, Mexico): A campus expansion blending indoor courtyards with vibrant murals.
• Duling Educational and Cultural Centre (Project Mingde, China): A pavilion of tensile roofs inspired by local bamboo weaving.
• CA College of the Arts Campus Expansion (Studio Gang, USA): Bold, angular forms that foster student collaboration.
• Paper Island (Cobe, Denmark): A mixed use waterfront district reimagining Copenhagen’s industrial past.
• Rwanda Institute for Conservation (MASS Design Group, Rwanda): A living laboratory for ecology and education.
• Aquifer Recharge Plant – Cape Flats (SALT Architects, South Africa): A water wise facility that doubles as a community plaza.

Cast Your Vote and Save the Date

Starting in May 2025, designers, students, and anyone with a passion for architecture can pick their favorites in the public vote. Winners will be unveiled on June 9, 2025, and immortalized in The World’s Best Architecture 2026. Whether you’re an industry insider or just love great buildings, now’s your chance to join the conversation.