Professor Brendon McNiven leads the Melbourne School of Design (MSD), Architectural Engineering Masters Course. Mark Burry AO is the Founding Director for Swinburne University of Technology’s ‘Smart Cities Research Institute’. Roland Snooks is a Professor at RMIT University, and director of the architectural practice Studio Roland Snooks.

Dr Daniel Prohasky is an architectural engineer and roboticist passionate about translating research towards accelerating the scaled adoption of exciting, resourceful and low-carbon architecture. Dr Sofia Colabella is an architect and Lecturer in Architectural Design at the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning of The University of Melbourne, with a PhD in Architectural Technology. Peter Lim is a director of Tensys and working in the field of lightweight structures, complex geometries and space frames for the past 35 years. 

Download an A2 Conference Poster as well as an A4 Conference Flyer

The LSAA was founded at the University of NSW back in 1981.

The recent Conferences have been hosted at a number of Universities in Melbourne (Monash and Swinburne) and UTS in Sydney.

Swinburne, The University of Melbourne and RMIT are creating the Inaugural Student Design Award at the 2024 event.

The Inaugural Student Award is being sponsored by Tensys and MakMax - thank you

Draft Details of the Design Brief, Rules for Teams and the delivery product follow on here (April 30 2024)
You can download a PDF of the document HERE

Student Competition Design Brief Connecting to tomorrow

This new award is open to small teams of students currently enrolled in a tertiary institution to develop and present a conceptual design that embodies the principles of lightweight structure and emphasises sustainability and the need to address social and climate change issues. This year's event raises awareness of the human-environment-future relationship.

LSAA Members and non-members may enter (different fees apply).

The 2024 Awards are for completed structures since May 2022 and are open to companies or individuals who have acted as the main designer, fabricator or installer. 
The "project" may be part of larger facility - e.g. an Atrium, Facade, Entrance, Roof.

However only one entry per project will be considered.

Draft 2024 RULES and ENTRY FORMS can be downloaded. Closing Date is August 14 2024

Bookings and registrations are now available on Humanitix website (May 31, 2024)

As normal for our Conferences, financial members of the organizing bodies are offered a discount.

There are also tickets for Non-members as well as limited space for Full time students from Swinburne, UofMelbourne and RMIT (excludes Thursday night Dinner). Day tickets are possible to attend the technical sessions on either the Thursday or Friday. Extra tickets for the Dinner only are available.

There are entry fees for each project entered into our Design Awards - again there is a discount for financial members. Payment details for Award Entries are on the Design Awards Entry Forms.

Sponsorship packages enable sponsors to some complimentary registrations. QR Code for bookings:

The Venue is in the AMDC (Advanced Manufacturing and Design Centre), Room 301 - see ellipse on map below.

The LSAA 2024 Conference will be held in the excellent facilities at Swinburne University (Hawthorn Campus)

Reaching the venue is easy by suburban Metro train lines (nearest station is Glenferrie about 250 metres walk) or via the fantastic, world famous trams going along Burwood Road.

Specifically we will be in the AMDC Building Room 301.

The following are some images of the Swinburne Campus and the area where Sponsors will set up displays and the most important coffee / tea outlets will be located.

When you come to the LSAA 2024 Conference and Design Awards jointly held with Swinburne University, take the time to appreciate "Vibrant Melbourne".

Melbourne is a rapidly growing city - voted the most liveable city for many years.

In recent years there has been an enormous amount of construction in the areas of the Docklands, Spencer Streets and Southbank.

There are a number of lightweight structures in and around Melbourne.

There are the roof structures at the major sports stadia - Tennis Centre (Rod Laver and Margaret Court Arenas), the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), the Rectangular AAMI Stadium, the Etihad Stadium and the Southern Cross train station.

The Victorian Arts Centre Spire, the Sidney Myer Music Bowl and the nearby Aquatic Centre are other examples.

Smaller tensioned fabric structures can be found throughout Melbourne.