Lawrence Nield
Lawrence Nield is a retired Australian architect, who since 2012 has been head of the Heritage Council of New South Wales. He is also known for his writings on urban design. He was head of master planning for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
Lawrence Nield
- Name
- Lawrence Nield
- Born
- 1941
- Birthplace
- Melbourne, Australia
- Education
- University of Sydney
- Awards
- *Canberra Medallion, 1989
- Nationality
- Australia
- Occupation
- architect
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
Lawrence Nield is a retired Australian architect, who since 2012 has been head of the Heritage Council of New South Wales. He is also known for his writings on urban design. He was head of master planning for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Note VALÉORINE
Lawrence Nield (born 1941) is an Australian architect. The architect was born in Melbourne. Lawrence Nield studied at University of Sydney.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
VALÉORINE
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Lawrence Nield. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
World of VALÉORINE
Documentary connections
Only confirmed graph relationships appear here. Images are shown only when their identity and reuse rights both pass the documentary gate.
Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
getty · 500204894 · wikidata · Q6504416 · wikipedia · Lawrence Nield
In this article
Biography
Biography
He was one of the founders of BVN Architecture (formerly Bligh Voller Nield).
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Lawrence Nield • Born — 1941 • Birthplace — Melbourne, Australia • Education — University of Sydney • Practice — BVN & Studio Nield, Sydney • Significant Buildings — Sunshine Coast University Library Beijing Olympic Tennis Centre • Awards — *Canberra Medallion, 1989 • Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 1997 • Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, 2007 • Grand Architectural Creation Award, 2009 • Australian Institute of Architects Gold Medal, 2012 • Robin Gibson Award for Enduring Architecture, 2026
Architectural education
Architectural education
Neild graduated from the University of Sydney in 1963, winning the Baillieu Research Scholarship. He was awarded the Byera Hadley Travelling Scholarship in 1964 and undertook a Master of Literature at Cambridge, England.
Government Architect role
Government Architect role
In March 2013 Nield was appointed the Northern Territory Government Architect a position he held until 2018. In 2010 Lawrence Nield founded Studio Nield with his partner Andrea Nield in Sydney.
Recognition
Recognition
He won the Australian Institute of Architects 2012 Gold Medal for Outstanding Achievement, and the French Republic's Order of Arts and Letters in 2007, and the 1997 Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, which he won for the design of the Sunshine Coast University Library.
Designs
Designs
Nield's designs include: • Ultimo Community Centre, Sydney, NSW • UNSW L5 Building, Sydney, (2005) – 2007 RIBA International Award • Sunshine Coast University Library, Maroochydore, Queensland (1997) – 1998 RAIA Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture • Questacon, Canberra, ACT • St Vincent's Hospital • The King's School gymnasium • 10 Mort Street, Canberra, ACT • David Maddison Clinical Sciences Building, Newcastle, NSW • Cook and Phillip Aquatic Centre, Sydney, NSW • Olympic Green Tennis Center, Beijing • Sydney International Tennis Centre, (1998) – 1999 RAIA NSW Sulman Award • Overseas Passenger Terminal, Sydney, (1988) – 1988 RAIA National Civic Design Award • Caroline Chisholm High School, ACT, (1986) • Mount Druitt Hospital, (1982) – 1983 RAIA NSW Chapter Merit Award Architectural Works • David Maddison Building – Clinical Sciences Building, University of Newcastle, (1981) – 1982 RAIA NSW Chapter Merit Award
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority file
- Getty Union List of Artist Names 500204894, Lawrence Nield and Partners.
General reference · The Getty Research Institute
reference work
- “Lawrence Nield”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q6504416: Lawrence Nield
General reference · Wikidata
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Power, Julie. Heritage leader sees the value of change. The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax. 5. 2012-06-06.
- 2.Dixon, Andrea. Lawrence Nield and Lucy Turnbull honoured at Australian Institute of Architects awards. Property Observer. 2012-03-22.
- 3.Amies, Lucia. Lawrence Nield on deciphering the meaning of architecture and the role of the architect. Architecture AU. 1 April 2025.
- 4.Architecture Media. Nield appointed NT Government Architect. architectureau. 2013.
- 5.The Sydney Morning Herald. Architecture of Lawrence Nield. 2012-06-06.
- 6.Nield, Lawrence. Four techniques: Lawrence Nield. architectureau. Architecture Media.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
authority file
Getty Union List of Artist Names 500204894, Lawrence Nield and Partners.The Getty Research Institute
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 18 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Design
11,558 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Lawrence Grant WhiteDesigner
- Lawrence HalprinDesigner
- Lawrence J. O'ConnorDesigner
- Lawrence Murray DixonDesigner
- Lawrence ParkDesigner
- Lawrence ScarpaDesigner
- Lazar KhidekelDesigner
- Lazar the HilandarianDesigner
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a work by Lawrence Nield?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.