It is one of the most prestigious architectural prizes in Scotland - and five buildings in Scotland have made the shortlist for the top honour.
Scotland’s building of the year will be crowned later this year from a shortlist announced by the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS).
Amongst the properties vying for the RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award is a charming hillside farmstead in Ballater, as well as major city projects in Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh.
RIAS said the re-use of existing buildings was a noticeable theme running through the 2024 shortlist. Two of Scotland’s cultural institutions feature on the list, while the historic farmstead in Ardberg in the running has been rescued and renovated.
The awards, named in memory of architect and developer Andy Doolan, are now in their 20th year. The jury for this year’s award include chair David Kohn, author and journalist Gabriella Bennett, and Karen Anderson, president of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland.
Mr Kohn, chair of the 2024 Doolan Award jury, said: “Choosing a shortlist for this year’s Doolan Award was both an honour and a challenge.
“There was a wealth of ambitious projects worthy of further celebration. The unanimously chosen final five demonstrate the breadth of contemporary Scottish architecture, from the finely-crafted to the handsomely urbane, from the revitalising of national treasures to state-of-the-art facilities. Karen, Gabriella and I are excited to experience the projects first hand and to debate which will be 2024’s best building in Scotland.”
Here are the five buildings that have made the prestigious shortlist, with a look inside some of the stunning interiors.

9. The Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh
The popular gallery, on Market Street in Edinburgh, has been refurbished and extended | Tricia Malley & Ross Gillespi

10. Inside the Fruitmarket Gallery
Judges have praised Reiach and Hall Architects’ for the the re-use and openness of the gallery | Ruth Clark

11. University of Aberdeen Science and Teaching Hub
The facade of the University of Aberdeen Science and Teaching Hub. The shortlisted building, according to the judges, "exudes a sense of quiet and controlled scientific optimism" | Niall Hastie

12. A laboratory inside the University of Aberdeen Science and Teaching Hub
Some laboratories inside the University of Aberdeen's state-of-the-art Science Teaching Hub, which opened in early 2022. The hub has been described as a modern learning space | Niall Hastie


