Northern Memorial Park Depot secures top honour at the 2025 National Architecture Awards

We’re excited to share that the Northern Memorial Park Depot has added yet another major accolade to its growing list of achievements, taking home the 2025 Harry Seidler Award for Commercial Architecture at the National Architecture Awards.

Designed by Searle x Waldron Architecture and proudly delivered by Building Engineering, this project continues to shine for its creativity, purpose and forward-thinking approach.

The jury praised the depot for reimagining what a workplace can be for the teams who care for our memorial parks. Rather than a traditional facility, the design creates a supportive and uplifting environment for staff, while still providing all the practical functionality needed for vehicles, equipment and daily operations.

A key part of the project’s success has been its strong collaboration with the client and landscape architects. Set within a growing ecological landscape of meadows, wetlands and future public open space, the depot helps reshape the cemetery precinct as a place not only of remembrance, but also of renewal and community connection.

The building celebrates natural materials and open, welcoming spaces, with thoughtful planning that creates a calm, light-filled setting for staff. Sustainability was also central to the design, incorporating low-impact materials, natural ventilation, on-site energy generation and reduced water usage to support a net-zero operational goal.

We’re incredibly proud to have built this award-winning project and to continue seeing it recognised at the highest level. Congratulations to Searle x Waldron Architecture, The Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust and the entire consultant team on this outstanding achievement.