In addition to the open submissions, OPAL presents our SPECIAL AWARDS nominated yearly by our distinguished jury panel, honouring outstanding achievements and contributions to the built environment across the categories of:
/ Sustainability
/ Innovation
/ SOCIAL IMPACT
/ LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
Their work and achievements must be truly outstanding and have made a game-changing impact in their sectors, a true inspiration for others to follow.
Please view the Special Award presentations below.
ETH Zürich was selected by the OPAL jury for redefining architectural practice through research, robotic fabrication, and full-scale experimentation, translating computational innovation into measurable construction methods with global impact.
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Alejandro Aravena receives the Social Impact Prize for his outstanding achievements in architecture, pioneering inclusive, sustainable designs that empower communities, transform lives, and redefine housing as a catalyst for social progress.
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OPAL proudly honours Jean Nouvel with the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising his visionary fusion of art, technology, and emotion that has redefined global architecture and inspired generations worldwide.
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Danish architectural firm EFFEKT is rewarded for their visionary sustainable architecture that harmonises people, nature, and community — integrating circular design, local materials, and regenerative landscapes to create lasting environmental and societal benefit
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Snøhetta leads in sustainable architecture through energy-positive buildings, biophilic designs, and eco-conscious materials, creating innovative, environmentally harmonious, and socially inclusive spaces that inspire and minimise environmental impact.
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Mecanoo leads globally in architectural innovation, blending sustainability, adaptive reuse, and cutting-edge design to create transformative and inclusive spaces.
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A pioneering architect who redefined urban landscapes with High-Tech designs, emphasizing transparency, structural expression, and sustainable, people-focused city planning.
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Article 25 is a pioneering architectural NGO focused on sustainable, community-driven design, delivering impactful projects that address urgent social needs in vulnerable regions across the Global South.
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Critically acclaimed architect Kengo Kuma, renowned for his innate ability to merge architecture with nature using materials in imaginative ways, is the prize winner of Innovation. Watch our interview about his visions and concepts.
Mark Davy, founder of UK based FUTURECITY brings the element of social impact to the built industry across the world by creating cultural strategies, brokering cultural partnerships & delivers highly impressive art projects.
SOMs' future visions of holistic concepts, inspired by natural ecosystems, bring together sustainable urban design, innovations in materials, and emerging technologies.
Sharon Davis Design creates humanitarian and community-focused projects. As well as being cost-effective and environmentally conscious, Davis' designs serve one purpose: improving people's lives through architecture.
This years prize is awarded to Werner Sobek for his Gradientenbeton, aka Graded Concrete, offering significant material savings and emission reductions.
This years prize for SOCIAL IMPACT is rewarded to MASS DESIGN GROUP for their outstanding methods of using architecture as a vehicle to improve peoples lives.
Climate engineering firm TRANSSOLAR KlimaEngineering is awarded the 2020 SUSTAINABILITY AWARD for their groundbreaking climate and energy concepts.
The 2020 OPAL SPECIAL AWARD for INNOVATION is awarded to Farshid Moussavi OBE RA for her outstanding contributions to the built environment.
