First Ever Dead Heat for RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award

In 2008 Tte RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award, supported by the Scottish Government and Mrs Margaret Doolan, was awarded to two buildings for the first time in its history – Castlemilk Stables Restoration in Glasgow by Elder and Cannon Architects and the Potterrow Development at the University of Edinburgh by Bennetts Associates.

Linda Fabiani MSP, Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture, announced the result of the UK’s richest architectural prize at a reception at the Scottish Parliament on Friday 7th November.

From eleven shortlisted projects the judges selected three projects which they considered were of particular merit: 

- Castlemilk Stables Restoration, Elder and Cannon Architects
- Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre, Gareth Hoskins Architects
- Potterrow Development, Bennetts Associates

They concluded that this year’s award should go jointly to Castlemilk and Potterrow. The £25,000 prize is shared equally between Elder and Cannon Architects and Bennetts Associates.

Ms Fabiani said: “That the judges were unable to choose between this year’s joint winners is surely an indication of the tremendous design talent we are nurturing in Scotland.  My congratulations go to Elder and Cannon Architects and Bennetts Associates.  Both projects, and the short-listed entries, demonstrate how architecture and design can have a positive impact on our lives wherever we are and whatever we are doing.

“The Scottish Government’s commitment to promoting excellence in Scottish architectural design is reflected in this year’s increase in funding for the award, allowing an exhibition of the short-listed entries to tour Scotland.  This will encourage public interest and debate on what makes a great building as well as showcasing the strength and depth of architectural talent in Scotland at the moment.”

The judging panel was chaired by Professor Andy MacMillan, with Marjorie Appleton FRIAS, Andy Burrell ARIAS, Arnie Dunn, President of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) and Alan Jones, Senior Teaching Fellow & Director of Education (Architecture) SPACE Queen's University, Belfast. 

The RIAS President commented: “The quality and range of submissions for this year’s award is testimony to the exceptional standard of Scottish architecture today. The judges visited each of the shortlisted projects whose variety and attention to detail was truly impressive. The winners are buildings of the highest standard and reflect two vital strands of contemporary Scottish architecture – the creative re-use of historic buildings and the huge importance of new buildings for tertiary education.”

An exhibition showcasing the shortlisted buildings and the winners toured throughout Scotland during 2009/2009. The exhibition, by the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, was supported by the Scottish Government and highlighted the history of the award, alongside information and images of the 2008 shortlisted buildings.

More information on the winning projects: Castlemilk Stables Restoration and the Potterrow Development.

Shortlisted Buildings 2008

- Castlemilk Stables Restoration, Glasgow by Elder & Cannon Architects
- Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre, Inverness by Gareth Hoskins Architects Ltd
- Dawyck Gateway Visitor Centre, Dawyck by Simpson & Brown Architects
- Eden Court Theatre (refurbishment), Inverness by Page\ Park
- Heart of Hawick, Hawick by Gray, Marshall & Associates
- Housing, Telford Drive, Edinburgh by GM + AD Architects
- Jordanhill School New Teaching Block, Glasgow by Elder & Cannon Architects
- Quartermile Development, Edinburgh by Foster + Partners
-  Potterrow Development, University of Edinburgh by Bennetts Associates
- Tigh Na Dobhran (single family dwelling), Argyll by Studio KAP
- Todlaw Supported Housing, Duns by Oliver Chapman Architects.

Image: John MIller of Bennetts Associates and Tom Connelly of Elder & Cannon with their awards. Photograph by Peter Sandground.

Previous winners:
2007  Pier Arts Centre, Stromness    
Reiach & Hall
2006  Maggie’s Highland Cancer Care Centre, Inverness 
Page/Park
2005  The Scottish Parliament     
EMBT/RMJM Ltd
2004  St Aloysius College, Clavius Building, Glasgow  
Elder and Cannon Architects
2003  An Turas, Tiree      
Sutherland Hussey Architects with Jake Harvey, Glen Onwin, Donald Urquhart and Sandra Kennedy
2002  Dance Base, Edinburgh     
Malcolm Fraser Architects