Other residential projects to be recognised include Athron Hill in Kinross and Gartnerichnich Cottage in Stirling.

Reflecting the RIAS’ commitment to recognising impactful and positive architectural contributions to people and place, the 2025 RIAS Awards shortlist proudly champions breadth in scale, brief and location.

The 2025 RIAS Awards shortlisted projects are: 

• Adam Smith Building, University of Glasgow by Hassell
• Aldourie Castle Estate, Highlands by Ptolemy Dean Architects
• Athron Hill - Phases 1 & 2, Kinross by Fraser/Livingstone Architects
• Caochan na Creige, Isle of Harris by Izat Arundell
• Chryston Community Hub, North Lanarkshire by Ryder Architecture
• Dundreggan Rewilding Centre, Highlands by Threesixty Architecture
• Ellegowan Regeneration, Dundee by Collective Architecture
• Fairburn Tower, Highlands by Simpson & Brown
• Gairnshiel Jubilee Bridge, Aberdeenshire by Moxon Architects
• Gartnerichnich Cottage, Stirling by Dualchas Architects
• Harmeny Outdoor Learning Hub, Edinburgh by Loader Monteith & Studio SJM Architects
• HMP & YOI Stirling by Holmes Miller Architects
• Kilmartin Museum, Argyll and Bute by Reiach and Hall Architects
• Kinloch Lodge, Highland by GRAS
• Riverside Primary School, Perth by Architype
• Rock Cove, Argyll and Bute by CameronWebster Architects
• Rosebank Distillery, Falkirk by MLA
• The Nucleus Building, University of Edinburgh by Sheppard Robson
• The Port of Leith Distillery, Edinburgh by Threesixty Architecture
• The Seed, Dundee by Kirsty Maguire Architect
• Union Terrace Gardens, Aberdeen by Stallan-Brand Architecture + Design & LDA Design

The 21 projects on the shortlist will now each be visited by the 2025 RIAS Awards jury, which includes Ann Nisbet (founder, Ann Nisbet Studio), Craig Hamilton (founding director, Craig Hamilton Architects) and Caroline Grewar (programme director, V&A Dundee) - chaired by Jessam Al-Jawad (director, Al-Jawad Pike Architects).

Following this, the winners of this year’s RIAS Awards will be announced at the end of May. As in previous years, the winning projects will also make up the ‘longlist’ for the RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award - the pinnacle of the RIAS awards programme. Recipients of the 2025 RIAS Awards are also eligible for recognition in the current Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Awards.

Tamsie Thomson, chief executive of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, said: “I am thrilled to see such an exciting variety of projects on this year’s shortlist. Year on year, we strive to encourage entries from all corners of Scotland, and these 21 projects offer a fantastic representation of exceptional design thinking in rural and urban settings. The strength of this shortlist is the diversity of project types, which provide people from all walks of life with high-quality, sustainable, and innovative architecture for working, learning, and living.

“I am very much looking forward to joining our judges as they visit each of the shortlisted projects next month, as they have the undoubtedly tough task of choosing our winners. It will be an honour to celebrate our winning practices and projects at our awards ceremony in the spring.”