The shortlist has been announced for the 2005 RIAS Andrew Doolan Award for Architecture, Best Building in Scotland - the UK's biggest architecture prize. The four architect judges were extremely impressed by the quality of all the buildings visited and, in particular, those that reached the final shortlist. The objective of this major award is simple - find the best new building in Scotland. Buildings projects of all sizes and types from all over Scotland have been considered. The architects of the winning building will receive £25,000, making this the biggest architecture prize in the UK and one of the most significant architecture awards in the world. The winner will be announced at a ceremony at the Point Conference Centre, Edinburgh at 1pm on Wednesday 5 October 2005.

The award was renamed the RIAS Andrew Doolan Award for Architecture (previously RIAS Award for Architecture) in 2004 in memory of its founder and patron, the architect Andrew Doolan, who died in April of that year. The award would not exist without his extraordinary generosity and vision. The award was established by the RIAS and Andrew Doolan in 2002.

Previous winners of the Award are:
Dance Base, Edinburgh designed by Malcolm Fraser Architects (2002)
An Turas, Tiree, created by Sutherland Hussey Architects with Jake Harvey, Glen Onwin, Donald Urquhart and Sandra Kennedy (2003)
St Aloysius College, Clavius Building designed by Elder and Cannon Architects (2004).

The judges for the 2005 award are:
Douglas Read, President, Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland
David Porter, Head of Mackintosh School of Architecture, Glasgow
Kathryn Findlay, Director Fieldwork Architecture at the University of Dundee
Anthony Reddy, President, Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland

Sentinel Office Development, Glasgow
Gordon Murray + Alan Dunlop Architects

The Sentinel building is located on the corner of Waterloo Street and Douglas Street at the entrance to Glasgow's international financial business district. The architects succeeded in convincing the planning authorities of the urban qualities of a taller building at this site and of the positive contribution to the city's lighting strategy by using an innovative lighting scheme.

Judges' comments: "A powerful urban statement using a minimal palette of natural gray slate and glass - a real "Glasgow" building with ingenious use of modern technology to produce a light, airy, colourful building that literally glows in the dark. Proof that commercial architecture is not an oxymoron."

Edinburgh Quay, Phase One, Edinburgh
Michael Laird Architects

Michael Laird Architects identified the Lochrin Basin site as a development opportunity in 1996 and approached Miller Developments. Ultimately a joint venture company, Edinburgh Quay Ltd, was set up with British Waterways to promote the regeneration. It is the first mixed-use canal side development in Scotland.

Judges' comments: "A wonderful piece of urban placemaking. great use of contemporary commercial architectural language to set a standard for the continuing redevelopment of a previously run-down area."

A' Chrannag, Rothesay
G Deveci, Architect

A' Chrannag is located on the edge of the town centre in a brownfield site. The brief was to build 14 two and three bedroom homes for rent to meet local needs for affordable housing. The client, Fyne Homes, specified that the dwellings should be sustainable and innovative, and that the local community should be encouraged to participate in the planning process.

Judges' comments: "A great achievement by the architect within a limited budget. intelligent and sensitive, it enriches the lives of the residents and the wider Rothesay community. Much credit has also to go the client for their enormous enthusiasm and belief in their architect."

Scottish Parliament building, Edinburgh
EMBT/RMJM

The vision for the Scottish parliament building was for a unique institution - open, anti-classical and non-hierarchical. The brief demanded that the building must be of such a quality, durability and civic importance as to reflect the Parliament's status and operational needs; it must be secure but also accessible to all people; it must promote modern and efficient ways of working and good environmental practice.

Judges' comments: "The building has the richness of a small city compressed into a difficult and demanding site. On one side it is warm and humane, on the other, imbued with an extraordinary richness of architectural references."

Community Centre for Health, Partick
Gareth Hoskins Architects

In 2002 Greater Glasgow NHS Primary Care Trust commissioned the design of a new community centre for health in the Partick area of Glasgow, replacing a day nursery housed previously on the site and combining it with an existing clinic on the adjacent site of Sandy Road. The emphasis of the brief was to provide open flexible spaces that promote an awareness of healthcare in the community but which would allow an evolution for the provision of any future service.

Judges' comments: "An elegant addition to the townscape, which works both as an urban development and as a sensitive community facility, responding well to the needs of both its users and its staff. A very clear circulation such that the first time visitor can navigate the building with ease."