Waterloo Metro Station in Sydney has received Gold in the Transport category at the WAN World Architecture News Awards 2026.

Designed by John McAslan + Partners for John Holland Group as part of the Sydney Metro programme, the station was recognised for its clear spatial organisation, integrated public realm and strong incorporation of Indigenous-led art.

Located three kilometres south of Sydney’s CBD, the station serves both as a key transport interchange and a new civic space for the surrounding neighbourhood. A landscaped plaza defines the station’s public interface, improving connections between street level, station entrances and bus routes, while providing accessible routes and integrated cycle facilities.

The design emphasises clarity and intuitive passenger movement. Open sightlines, carefully positioned lifts and escalators, and a restrained material palette support easy navigation, while a central skylight and light panels draw daylight deep into the station environment.

Three permanent artworks by Indigenous artist Nicole Monks are embedded within the architecture and were developed with local community participation. Acting as both cultural markers and wayfinding elements, the works reinforce the station’s identity and acknowledge the area’s Aboriginal heritage.

The WAN Awards jury commented:

“A highly resolved and conceived project.”
“A great variety of spatial experience within a coherent palette of colours, textures, materials and lighting features.”
“A high-quality project with a strong integration of art, while remaining very clear in terms of navigation and restrained in its design.”

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image: ©Peter Bennetts