Why Should I enter?
Each year, the RIAS Awards celebrate the very best of Scottish architecture, recognising architectural contributions across all regions, uses and scales. By winning a RIAS Award, your work is eligible to be entered into both the Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award, and the RIBA Stirling Prize.
The RIAS Awards are widely regarded as one of the most valuable ways of getting your work seen. Being an award-winning practice can help you to build your customer base, give you increased exposure, motivate your team, and attract new employees.
Here is what your awards journey could look like….
October – January | Prepare & Reflect
The RIAS Awards open for entry on the 23 October and close 14 Jan 2027.
The awards are an opportunity to step back and reflect on the project — what worked, what you learned and what makes it special.
February | Shortlist Announcement
Your project gets judged by our expert jury at our Shortlisting day.
If your project is shortlisted, the promotion begins…
Your project will be:
Featured in the RIAS Awards shortlist announcement.
Included in RIAS social media promotion.
Included in the RIAS press activity around the shortlist.
Featured in the RIAS Review, reaching the RIAS membership across Scotland.
As a shortlisted practice, you’ll also be invited to the RIAS Summer Reception, with opportunities to bring your client along and celebrate the project together.
February – March | Project Visits
Meet the Jury in person.
Shortlisted projects are visited by experienced professionals from across the industry- one of the only awards schemes to do so.
It’s an opportunity to talk directly about your project, share the thinking behind the design and showcase the finished building to the judging panel.
It’s also another chance to celebrate the project with your client and the wider project team.
Sketches produced by judge Chris Dyson on the 2026 Awards Trip
May | Announcement
Attend the RIAS Awards Summer Reception and celebrate with your practice, clients and others in the industry. All shortlisted practices are invited and winners and special category winners are announced on the night.
Find out more about the special category awards (LINK)
As a winning project you can expect:
Professional photography
Promotion across RIAS social media.
Inclusion in RIAS press activity around the winners
A feature on the RIAS website.
Coverage in RIAS Review.
An RIAS Awards plaque to display on the building.
Automatic inclusion on the longlist for the RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland
Recently we have also included a RIAS Awards Shortlist Exhibition- free of cost to the practice
July | In Detail Series
Award-winning projects that also recieve a Special Category award are also invited to take part the RIAS In Detail series.
This gives practices the opportunity to present their project in a dedicated one-hour lecture to an audience of around 60–70 attendees, sharing the story behind the design, the challenges involved and the lessons learned.
The sessions are recorded and featured on the RIAS YouTube channel, giving the project another platform long after awards season.
July | The Doolan Journey Begins
RIAS Award winners go on to the next stage.
If your project receives an RIAS Award, it will be considered for the RIAS Doolan Award for Building of the Year.
A new judging panel reviews the RIAS Award-winning projects before selecting a shortlist of around three or four projects.
If your project makes the Doolan shortlist, the exposure continues:
A professional video is created about your project as well as some additional professional photos by Jim Stephenson.
Further coverage in RIAS Review.
Promotion across RIAS social media and communications. In 2026 the Doolan Shortlist was featured on TV on BBC Scotland.
An invitation to the Doolan reception.
The opportunity to take part in events showcasing the shortlisted projects.
In 2026, the Doolan shortlist will also feature in a dedicated exhibition and panel event, giving practices another opportunity to present their work and engage directly with the profession.
Video produced by Jim Stephenson for Fairburn Tower, Simpson and Brown.
November | Announcement
Attend the RIAS Doolan Award Reception to celebrate with your practice, clients and others in the industry. The winner is announced on the night.
As a winning project you can expect:
Professional photography
Promotion across RIAS social media and RIAS press activity
A feature on the RIAS website.
Multi page feature in the RIAS Review
Special ‘winner’s video’ produced by Jim Stephenson
February | The Doolan Lecture
For the Doolan Award winner, the journey continues beyond the awards ceremony.
The winning practice is invited to contribute to the RIAS Doolan Lecture, providing an opportunity to share the story behind the project with the architectural community. In 2026 this was held at the V&A Dundee.
From the initial submission to project visits, press coverage, exhibitions, lectures and digital promotion, the RIAS Awards can give your project a platform that extends far beyond awards season.
