• Archistar CEO Dr. Benjamin Coorey was honored at the 2026 Australia Day Awards Gala in Washington, D.C.
• The award recognizes his AI-led work supporting faster recovery after the Los Angeles fires.
• Archistar’s AI PreCheck is helping cut planning and approval timelines from months to days.

Archistar is thrilled to announce that its Founder and CEO, Dr. Benjamin Coorey, was one of nine Australians honored at the Australia Day Annual Awards Gala 2026, held at the Embassy of Australia in Washington, D.C., on January 28.

Dr. Coorey was recognized for his technological contributions to society, in particular his and Archistar’s AI housing innovations to support recovery following the devastation of the Los Angeles fires last year.

Australian Ambassador to the United States, the Honorable Dr. Kevin Rudd, presented the award to Dr. Coorey at the gala. The event brought together more than 200 leaders from government, business, science, technology, academia, and the arts to celebrate Australians making an exceptional impact in the United States.

The Australia Day award reflects Dr. Coorey’s achievements in academia and throughout his career as an innovator and leader, using technology to increase housing supply and help communities thrive. The award also acknowledges Archistar’s contribution to accelerating the building permit approval process and more broadly celebrates Australian innovation shaping outcomes on the global stage.

In the aftermath of disasters, communities face a complex and often frustrating journey to rebuild. Planning approvals, compliance checks, and regulatory uncertainty can add months—or even years—to recovery timelines.

Archistar’s AI PreCheck (formerly eCheck) has played a key role in addressing these challenges in Los Angeles. By automating planning assessments and translating complex regulations into clear, actionable insights, Archistar has helped reduce processes that once took months—and even years—down to days. The AI-powered technology helps architects, developers, homeowners, municipal planners, and governments move faster when speed is critical.

This work reflects Archistar’s core mission: to empower cities and building professionals with trusted AI tools that enhance design, streamline approvals, and support better decisions for thriving communities.

The Australia Day Gala Awards celebrate Australians in the United States whose work strengthens ties between the two nations and delivers meaningful impact across sectors. This year’s recipients included leaders in science, sports, business, culture, and technology.

Other winners include Moderna’s VP of Immune Therapeutics and Genomic Sciences, Dr. Kate Jeffrey; Edison Professor and Chair of the Department of Neuroscience at Washington University, Dr. Linda Richards; New York (by way of Australia) pub owners and restaurateurs, Eddy Buckingham, Andy Stone, and Nick Stone; and Australian actress (and voice of Chilli Heeler in the animated television program, Bluey), Melanie Zanetti.

In announcing the 2026 award winners, the Embassy of Australia highlighted Archistar’s contribution to disaster recovery and its role in demonstrating how Australian-founded technology can solve complex, real-world problems at scale.

For Dr. Coorey, the recognition is both a personal honor and a reflection of the collective effort behind Archistar’s work. “This award reflects the work Archistar has been doing to support rebuilding efforts following the Los Angeles fires and more broadly, our commitment to using technology to help communities recover and rebuild faster,” he says.

While the award was presented to Dr. Coorey, it recognizes the work of the entire Archistar team—including computational designers and architects—whose commitment and expertise have enabled the platform to deliver real-world outcomes during times of crisis.

From Australia to the United States, Canada, and beyond, Archistar continues to work with governments and industry partners to modernize planning systems, reduce friction, and support faster, more transparent decision-making. The recognition in Washington, D.C., underscores the growing role of AI-driven planning tools in responding to urgent housing and resilience challenges worldwide.

As climate-related events become more frequent, and cities face increasing pressure to rebuild quickly and sustainably, the need for intelligent planning technology has never been greater. Archistar remains focused on evolving its platform to support recovery, resilience, and long-term urban growth—ensuring communities can rebuild not just faster, but better.

We are grateful to the Embassy of Australia and the Honorable Dr. Kevin Rudd for this award— and to all of our customers for their support and partnership.