University architect wins profession’s Gold Medal

Auckland architect Richard Naish has been awarded the 2026 Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects Gold Medal - the highest individual honour for the architectural profession in New Zealand.

Naish, a design teacher in Te Pare School of Architecture and Planning, completed his own architecture studies at the University of Auckland. He now runs an innovative course in the School’s Master of Architecture (Professional) programme alongside professional teaching fellow Chris Barton, focusing on urban resilience.

"I am very honoured to receive the 2026 NZIA Gold Medal and am truly humbled when I consider the esteemed accolade," says Naish.

"I am very thankful to all the RTA Studio team and our great clients that have supported and contributed to the body of work that represents this point of my practice."

Naish began his career working for large practices in Auckland and London, before establishing RTA studio in 1999 with business partner Tim Melville.

The firm has steadily grown over the years, producing some of New Zealand’s most innovative buildings of the 21st century and accumulating a huge array of national and international awards.

These celebrated projects include the Ironbank commercial development on Karangahape Road (2009), the Scion building in Rotorua (2021), which features groundbreaking timber structure, and the innovative new Fisher & Paykel Global Headquarters (2026).

Naish’s firm has also designed a number of projects for the University, including the refurbishments of the Arts and Commerce Building and of the historically significant modernist housing block at 44 Symonds Street.

In 2018, Naish established the RTA Studio Scholarship for Māori Architecture Students at the University, providing $10,000 over five years and professional internship opportunities to support Māori students enrolled in their first year of a Bachelor of Architectural Studies.

"We offer hearty congratulations to Rich," says Te Pare’s Head of School, Associate Professor Mike Davis.

"He’s been a huge contributor to the life of the School, both through his teaching and the generous scholarship his firm supports. His consistent and ongoing support for new generations of architects has been a key part of the impact that the Gold Medal recognises."

RTA Studio’s projects are characterised by a readiness to engage with some of the most pressing architectural challenges of our moment: developing direct solutions to housing affordability, accomodating our rapidly evolving approaches to education, and addressing our escalating climate crisis by advancing the possibilities of mass timber construction.