Showcase Australian Healthcare Design on the Global Stage

Submissions Open for the 2026 IFHE International Building Award

The International Federation of Healthcare Engineering is inviting submissions for the 2026 IFHE International Building Award, recognising outstanding new healthcare buildings and major renovation projects from around the world.

The award celebrates excellence in healthcare facility design and construction, with a particular focus on projects that demonstrate innovation, sustainability, functionality and a strong commitment to human-centred care.

IHEA encourages Australian healthcare organisations, project teams, architects, engineers, designers, builders and infrastructure professionals to consider nominating eligible projects and showcasing local expertise on the international stage.

Who Can Enter?

Submissions are open for healthcare projects involving either:

• A new healthcare building

• A major renovation or redevelopment

Eligible projects must have been substantially completed between 1 January 2024 and 31 January 2026, or have been in operation since 1 January 2024.

This creates an excellent opportunity to recognise recently completed hospitals, health facilities and significant redevelopment projects that demonstrate strong design, engineering and operational outcomes.

What Will the Judges Consider?

Projects will be assessed across several important themes relevant to contemporary healthcare environments, including:

• Physical health and wellbeing

• Mental health and wellbeing

• Accessibility

• Independent living and privacy

• Functionality of everyday activities

• Contribution to the surrounding urban context

• Environmental sustainability

• Design innovation and best practice

Together, these themes recognise that successful healthcare buildings must deliver more than technical performance. They should also support patients, staff, visitors and communities through thoughtful, inclusive and sustainable design.

What Should Be Included?

Submissions should provide key information about the project, including:

• Project name and location

• Organisation and relevant IFHE member association affiliation

• Project team

• Completion date

• Building type and size

• Number of patient beds

• Total project cost

• Primary submission contact details

• Between 10 and 20 photographs of the completed project

The photographs should clearly communicate the project’s design, functionality and contribution to healthcare delivery.

Submission Deadline

Submissions close at:

12:00 pm GMT on Friday 31 July 2026

Australian project teams are encouraged to allow sufficient time to assemble the required project details, secure approvals and prepare high-quality photography before the deadline.

How to Submit

All submission materials should be emailed to:

Dan Fuochi Executive Director International Federation of Healthcare Engineering d.fuochi@ifhe.info

The award offers a valuable opportunity to celebrate the expertise, collaboration and innovation behind leading healthcare projects while increasing their visibility within the international healthcare engineering community.

Australian organisations with an eligible project are strongly encouraged to submit and help showcase the quality of healthcare design, engineering and infrastructure being delivered across the country.