Kangaroo Point Bridge receives dual honours at the 2025 Minister’s Awards for Urban Design
Kangaroo Point Bridge has been recognised with two major accolades at the 2025 Minister’s Awards for Urban Design, receiving both the Minister’s Award for Urban Design and the Movement and Place Award.
The bridge offers more than a connection between the CBD and Kangaroo Point — it is a significant piece of civic infrastructure designed to enhance connectivity, encourage active transport, and enrich the public realm.
Described as “outstanding in its delivery of efficient and equitable everyday amenity while embedding many small acts of urban kindness for a truly enriched public realm,” the jury praised the project as “a masterful balancing of complex functional and structural priorities with a deeply generous program of urban experiences, incorporating activated plazas, historic elements, a 100-seat dining pavilion, and sweeping views of both riverbanks.”
Defined by its elegant diagonal alignment, the crossing opens panoramic views along the river, reconnecting communities with the Brisbane waterfront and weaving together parkland, plazas, and a striking elevated pavilion. Prioritising efficient and equitable active movement, the bridge invites people to slow down, pause, and connect to the river city – rewarding both everyday users and visitors with crafted moments above and below deck.
The Movement and Place Award celebrates projects that successfully integrate transport and movement outcomes while delivering high-quality public spaces. The jury commended the bridge as “an inventive addition to Brisbane City Council’s active transport network” and “a new benchmark for pedestrian and cycle bridges across the Brisbane River.”
These awards follow three accolades at the 2025 Australian Institute of Architects Queensland Architecture Awards, including the Queensland Architecture Medallion — the state’s highest honour.
COX and Arup delivered the concept and reference design with Brisbane City Council (BCC). The project was established as a Design and Construct (D&C) project delivery with the reference designers (COX and Arup) retained by BCC as advisors and restricted from participating in delivery.
Led by Brisbane City Council, the larger team included:
- Client: Brisbane City Council
- Principal Contractor: BESIX Watpac
- Embedded Specialists: Rizzani de Eccher, Tensa
- Engineering: WSP, RWDI
- Architecture and Design: Blight Rayner Architecture, Dissing + Weitling, ASPECT Studios, Right Angle Studio, Blaklash, UAP
- Communication and Stakeholder: Rowland
- Concept and Reference Design: Brisbane City Council with Arup and COX Architecture