A New Cathedral for Sydney
April 2026
Níall McLaughlin Architects has been appointed to design a new Catholic Cathedral in Sydney’s Waitara suburb, as the centrepiece of a new spiritual, civic and cultural precinct for the Diocese of Broken Bay, in New South Wales.
The Cathedral Precinct Project will establish an integrated centre of Catholic life in the region and is poised to become a distinctive local landmark and a spiritual focal point for the parishes of the Northern Beaches, Central Coast, and North Shore.
Key to the project vision is the creation of a lifelong journey for congregants: from Baptism through to early learning, primary, and secondary education – ensuring the Cathedral is a living centre that serves all ages of its community.
The design highlights responsible, sustainable materials that complement the natural setting, in keeping with Pope Francis’s call to care for our common home.
Generous public spaces will embed the site within the neighbourhood and welcome the community – creating a place that prioritises people and permeability.
The international competition was organised by the diocese and led by the Archbishop Anthony Randazzo DD JCL, for the Hornsby Cathedral Parish community and the entire Diocese of Broken Bay.
Shortlisted for Museum To Honor Jesus Christ's Baptism At Bethany, Jordan
August 2025
Níall McLaughlin Architects is 1 of 7 practices shortlisted for the Malcolm Reading Consultants managed competition. Due to open in 2030 to mark the bimillennial of Christ’s baptism, the new museum is expected to be a globally significant spiritual and cultural landmark. The project is endorsed by His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and is led by the Foundation for the Development of the Lands Adjacent to the Baptism Site (the Foundation).
Dr Tharwat Al Masalha, Chair of the Jordan Foundation’s Board, said:
‘This project is one of the most significant cultural commissions in Jordan’s recent history. It reflects a national ambition to enrich the experience of visiting the Baptism Site for pilgrims, scholars, visitors and tourists alike.
‘The museum will honor the site’s spiritual value and importance, while also expressing Jordan’s enduring history as part of the Holy Land and its commitment to peace and plurality.
‘Confirming the shortlist brings us closer to creating a museum at one of the most sacred and spiritually resonant sites in the region.
‘We congratulate the finalist teams and look forward to seeing their design concepts in the Fall.’
More information is available on the Malcolm Reading website here.