Australian Institute of Architects (SA)

Celebrating SA’s best built form

The Opportunity

The SA Architecture Awards celebrate the innovation, dedication, and talent of architects who shape communities across the state.

Run by the Australian Institute of Architects’ state-based chapter, the awards also recognise projects that set benchmarks in architectural practice and inspire the profession to pursue excellence.

With promotion previously managed by the chapter’s in-house team, the Institute engaged communikate et al to support its 2023 and 2024 awards to help build the public’s awareness and understanding of good architecture and the impact it has on the broader community.

Our Approach

We developed and delivered a media relations campaign that made the awards accessible and newsworthy for mainstream, industry and regional media outlets.

For the 2023 campaign, a call-to-action was integrated to encourage people’s involvement in the public judging process. Meanwhile, to extend the reach beyond media, we liaised with third parties that had an affinity with entered projects, such as councils with projects in their local areas, to provide them with the information and materials they needed to promote award winners through their websites, social media and e-newsletters.

The Outcome

Across the two campaigns, communikate et al secured widespread media coverage that elevated the profile of the SA Architecture Awards and celebrated the contribution of architects to the state’s built environment.

By giving media outlets advance notice of the awards, and providing an embargoed media release, we were able to ensure timely reporting on the award announcements.

Combined, the two campaigns:

Delivered 47 media stories
Reached more than 20 million people
Generated a PR value of more than $570k
Were shared 12 times across third parties’ channels (e.g. Catholic Education SA, Heritage South Australia, City of Marion, Dymocks)

With our support, the Institute shifted the SA Architecture Awards beyond an industry only audience, creating opportunities for South Australians to learn more about the architects, projects and the thinking behind the places where they live, work and play.