Architectural Design Competitions

An Architectural Design Competition is a competitive process involving the submission of design responses by a minimum of 3 design teams for a proposed development. The design response best demonstrating the achievement of design excellence is selected by a jury based on design-related criteria.

The NSW Office of the Government Architect’s Design Competition Guideline (2023) outlines requirements to inform the pursuit of an Architectural Design Competition. In response to these guidelines, Penrith City Council requires the following key steps to be followed:

1. Preparation of a Design Excellence Strategy for endorsement by the relevant authority
2. Attendance at a Pre-lodgement meeting with Council Officers to clarify applicable site attributes, opportunities and constraints that should inform the preparation of a Design Competition Brief. This includes payment of applicable fees in accordance with Penrith Council’s Schedule of Fees and Charges.
3. Preparation of a Design Competition Brief for endorsement by the relevant authority
4. Competition commencement and distribution of the endorsed Design Competition Brief to selected entrants
5. Presentation of design proposals by the selected entrants to the Competition Jury
6. Jury deliberation and selection of a winning entrant (or decision for deferral to allow for further presentations by entrants)
7. Preparation of a Design Competition Report with endorsement by all Jury members

Further information regarding competition expectations and requirements as outlined within the NSW Office of the Government Architect’s Design Competition Guideline (2023), can be found at the following Government Architect NSW Webpage.

Following a Jury determination and as per conditions of that determination, it is common for a Design Integrity Panel (DIP) to be established which would provide ongoing design excellence guidance in the progression of the winning scheme to inform a development application. The DIP or Competition Jury is required to review the proposal prior to lodgement of a development application, during the assessment process, and prior to determination of a development application, to ensure that the design excellence principals established via the competition process are reflected within the final development scheme.  

To initiate an Architectural Design Competition with Penrith City Council, please complete the Competition Request Form and return via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .