The Building Designers Association of Western Australia Inc (BDAWA) is a corporate member of the Building Designers Association of Australia Ltd (BDAA), the national peak body of the building design industry.

Commonly known as BDAWA, the association was formed in 1986.

Today, building designers are responsible for more than 85 per cent of residential design in Western Australia and a significant proportion of commercial and industrial projects. Many of Perth’s landmark buildings have been designed by BDAWA members.

The association provides fellowship, professional services and industry leadership to members who are bound by a code of ethics and a commitment to exemplary professional standards.

Membership categories include:
• Full Members - experienced building designers operating their own
practices or employed in larger practices.
• Associate Members - building designers working towards prerequisite industry experience for full membership and designers working in associated fields such as interior or landscape design.
• Student/Graduate Members.
• Corporate Members - companies providing goods and services to the building design industry.

A scheme of legislated registration for building designers is proposed in Western Australia, aimed at further strengthening the association’s rigorous professional standards and reinforcing its consumer protection ideals.

BDAWA encourages healthy competition among its members by engaging industry experts to judge a series of Building Design Awards annually to promote the pursuit of excellence in local residential and commercial design.