The Edinburgh Architectural Association (EAA) has presented the Scottish Parliament building with its first architectural award since its completion. The award of the EAA Centenary Medal, the highest accolade that the association can give to any project, was presented to the architects, EMBT/RMJM, at the EAA annual Ball held at the HUB in Edinburgh on the evening of Friday 18 March 2005.

EAA President, Colin Gilmour, congratulated the winning architects for "having the vision, courage and stamina to create a masterful piece of architecture which all of Scotland should be proud of."

The judging panel, consisting of Professor Robin Webster of Glasgow based Cameron Webster Architects; Eelco Hooftman of Edinburgh based Landscape Architects Gross Max; and Ian Springford of Ian Springford Architects, were unanimous in awarding the parliament building the Centenary Medal.

The Centenary Medal was introduced in 1957 to celebrate 100 yea! rs of the EAA and is awarded to recognise outstanding architectural merit in a building or group of buildings designed by an Edinburgh chapter architect. As it represents the pinnacle of design achievement the Centenary Medal is not awarded on a frequent basis and has only been presented on seven occasions since its inception, the most recent previous winner being the Museum of Scotland Extension by Benson & Forsyth in 1999.

The EAA also presented its annual architectural award, the Silver Medal, to The Drum Housing in Bo'ness designed by Malcolm Fraser Architects. The judges were impressed by "the restraint and simplicity of the overall scheme which had a coherence and quality often lacking from volume house builders developments" and felt that this should be supported. A commendation was presented in this category to Reiach and Hall Architects for Vin Café, for clients Valvona & Crolla.

Other awards were presented on the night to LDN Architects in the Bro! nze Medal Category for Conservation for Parliament House and to Richard Murphy Architects in the inaugural Small Projects Category for work to 10 Regent Terrace Mews.