December 2025 News Award-winning: NUSSLI receives the IOC IAKS Architecture Award for the National Athletics Center Budapest
The National Athletics Center in Budapest has been awarded the IOC IAKS Architecture Prize 2025. Designed by NAPUR Architects and supplemented by a temporary extension by NUSSLI for the 2023 World Athletics Championships, the stadium impressed the jury with its sustainable, flexible, and innovative architecture.
Innovative solution for large events
NUSSLI created a temporary upper tier with 25,000 additional seats based on the existing roof and reception structure. After the event, the extension was removed so that the stadium retained its permanent capacity of 15,000 seats and can be used flexibly in the long term.
Click here for the project: World Athletics Championships 2023 in Budapest
Sustainable, flexible, innovative
The award in the category “Sustainable, barrier-free, and innovative sports and leisure facilities” recognizes NUSSLI's temporary expansion of the National Athletics Center Budapest for the 2023 World Athletics Championships. The jury particularly highlighted the sustainable planning, the intelligent combination of temporary and permanent structures, and the innovative implementation. The project is considered a best-practice example of flexible, resource-efficient sports infrastructure that enables major international events without placing a long-term burden on the city. With this contribution, NUSSLI demonstrates how sports architecture can be designed to be functional, innovative, and socially valuable at the same time.
Global recognition for outstanding sports infrastructure
The IOC IAKS Architecture Award is presented jointly by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS) and honors outstanding sports and leisure facilities worldwide. The award recognizes projects that are sustainable, innovative, and barrier-free in their design, offer a high level of public benefit, and are characterized by excellent architectural design. The award is considered one of the most prestigious prizes for sports architecture and underscores the international significance of the winning facilities.