Lawrence Nield of Bligh Voller Nield (BVN) is to receive the highest honour awarded by the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA): the 2012 Gold Medal. The award will be presented to Nield for his services to architecture including his lead role in the planning of three Olympics and design of the Sydney and Beijing Tennis Stadiums.

Nield’s knowledge of Sydney architecture is said to be encyclopaedic which has led to his position of contributing editor to the Oxford Companion to Architecture, numerous teaching roles and authorship of Changing Hospital Design in Australia.

The Gold Medal jury recognised that Nield has ‘made an outstanding contribution to architecture for over forty-five years. His career combines a prolific and continued output of significant architecture and urban design projects with services to the AIA and academic and teaching achievements, including a distinguished list of writings and publications’.