We're honoured to receive the 2025 Emerging Architects Award at @architecture_vic awards on Friday night. Thank you to the jury, such a thoughtful summary of our efforts, passions, and motivations over the years.

Thank you to all our clients, consultants, contractors, @emagnvic, @architecture_vic, @monasharchitecture and @msdsocial.

Congratulations to all our colleagues who were shortlisted.

Jury Citation:

Stephanie Kitingan, Jacqueline O'Brien, and James Flaherty are deserving winners of the 2025 Emerging Architect Prize for Victoria. This trio has made prolific and generous contributions to the practice and culture of architecture through their emerging studio, Placement.

Their design excellence is matched by a collaborative, people-centred approach, evident across their architectural and teaching work. This ethos extends beyond the studio to active service within the profession and broader community — from leading EmAGN initiatives to delivering impactful projects with recent migrants and marginalised groups. The jury commends Stephanie, Jacqueline, and James not only for the quality of their work, but for the way they work — with humility, clarity, and generosity.

Placement studio represents a model for a thoughtful, socially engaged architectural practice. Their ability to sustain and grow a meaningful practice amid the current pressures facing small, emerging studios is especially noteworthy. The jury congratulates Stephanie, Jacqueline and James on the strength and timeliness of their collective approach and wishes them much success with their future endeavours.