The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) has revealed the four exceptional buildings competing for the prestigious 2025 Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland award. The diverse shortlist includes a granite bridge, a restored Highland tower, a public space revitalization project, and a university teaching hub, showcasing the innovative ways architecture works alongside urban design and infrastructure disciplines.

The Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland award, established in 2002 and named after Scottish architect Andy Doolan, represents the country's most prestigious architectural recognition. According to jury chair Mary Duggan, founder of Mary Duggan Architects, this year's selection process produced "a diverse shortlist of intelligent schemes that not only demonstrate architectural excellence but also engage directly with the shifting political and behavioral circumstances that shape our public life."

One of the standout projects is the Gairnshiel Jubilee Bridge in Aberdeenshire, designed by local studio Moxon Architects. The bridge, constructed from weathering steel and recycled, locally sourced granite, was specifically built to redirect vehicle traffic away from a Category A-listed bridge located upstream. Moxon Architects previously earned recognition in last year's awards for their renovation of 19th-century farm buildings into a guesthouse and private artist's studio.

Edinburgh-based Simpson and Brown contributed to the shortlist with their remarkable restoration of Fairburn Tower in the Scottish Highlands. The firm transformed the remote 16th-century tower, which had fallen into serious disrepair, into a holiday rental property for the Landmark Trust charity. This project demonstrates the potential for breathing new life into Scotland's historical architectural heritage.

The Union Terrace Gardens public realm regeneration project in Aberdeen represents a collaborative effort between Glasgow-based architecture studio Stallan Brand and London-based landscape architecture studio LDA Design. The comprehensive revitalization included adding three pavilion-like buildings housing a cafe, restaurant, and wine bar, while also enhancing the park's green spaces and meticulously restoring its statues, railings, arcade arches, and underground Victorian toilets.

Completing the shortlist is the Nucleus Building at the University of Edinburgh, designed by British architecture studio Sheppard Robson. This educational hub was specifically created to serve as a central gathering place where university staff and students can teach, study, and socialize in a modern, purpose-built environment that fosters academic collaboration and community building.

The jury for this year's competition consisted of Mary Duggan alongside design consultant Gordon Murray and Architects' Journal news editor Richard Waite. Their rigorous evaluation process highlighted how these four projects represent architecture's ability to "reinforce, respond to, and even anticipate" the changes shaping contemporary public life in Scotland.

The 2024 Andrew Doolan award was won by British studio John McAslan + Partners for their renovation of the Burrell Collection museum in Glasgow. In 2023, a remote house called Cuddymoss by architecture practice Ann Nisbet Studio made history by becoming the first one-off residence to ever win the prestigious award, demonstrating the competition's recognition of diverse architectural achievements across Scotland.