Dead Heat For Scottish Architecture Prize

Castlemilk Stables

Potterrow Development

Two buildings won Scotland's richest architectural prize last night, as the projects, one in Glasgow and one in Edinburgh, were tied for the first time in the prizes.

The £25,000 RIAS Andrew Doolan Prize was awarded to Bennetts Associates and Elder & Cannon Architects for, respectively, the Potterrow Development at the University of Edinburgh and the restoration of Castlemilk Stables in Glasgow.

The award, granted by the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS), has previously been won by buildings such as Dance Base in Edinburgh, the Scottish Parliament, the Maggie's Centre in the Highlands and, last year, the Pier Arts Centre in Stromness.

Eleven projects were shortlisted for the prestigious prize, including Foster + Partners' Quartermile development, and the Culloden Battlefield Visitors Centre designed by Gareth Hoskins, which the judges highly commended.

Linda Fabiani, the Culture Minister, 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...Both projects, and the shortlisted 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 shortlisted entries to tour Scotland."

Arnie Dunn, president of RIAS, said: "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.