Why 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 | Entries are open
The 2027 RIAS Awards open to submissions on Friday 23 October 2026. The early bird deadline is XX November, giving you the chance to save 10% on your submission. The final deadline is Friday 14 January 2027.
The RIAS Awards champion the very best of Scottish architecture, recognising projects all types, uses and scales for their high-quality design, creativity, innovation, and positive impact on people and the environment. This is your opportunity to showcase your latest work, and what makes it special.
In addition to entering the main RIAS Awards, you can also put your project forward for one of our Special Category Awards.
February | Shortlist Announcement
Every project that is submitted to the RIAS Awards is reviewed, considered and discussed by our expert judging panel, which is made up of experienced professionals from across the industry.
Once decided, the shortlisted projects are announced on the RIAS website, the RIAS Review and both mainstream and trade press - reaching members of the public and the RIAS membership across Scotland. Shortlisted projects are also shared and featured across the RIAS social media channels, content which received 95k+ impressions in 2026.
February – March | Project Visits
Once the shortlist is officially unveiled, the judging panel will visit each of the these projects in person.
Practices will be able to take the judges on a tour of the project, share more about the thinking behind the design, and answer any questions. Where possible we encourage project architects to lead these visits, alongside a relevant client representative, to help offer a comprehensive insight into the project, and how it works for the people it was designed for.
Sketches produced by judge Chris Dyson on the 2026 Awards Trip
May | Winners Announcement
All shortlisted practices are invited to the RIAS Awards Summer Reception, to celebrate your work with your team, clients and others in the industry. In recent years, projects have been included in a RIAS Awards shortlist exhibition, which is curated and presented as part of the event.
The highlight of the Summer Reception is the announcement of the RIAS Award winners, which are each awarded a plaque to display on their award-winning building. The RIAS Special Category Award winning projects are also announced on the night.
All winning projects and practices are included a feature on the RIAS website, social media and added to the year’s awards directory. You may have seen the winning projects featured different magazines and publications, such as BBC News, The Scotsman, Architects’ Journal, Urban Realm and Glasgow Live.
July | In Detail Series
Projects that are awarded a RIAS Special Category Award, are also invited to take part in our RIAS Awards: RIAS In Detail programme.
This runs as an online webinar series each summer, and gives practices the opportunity to present their project in a dedicated one-hour lecture, sharing the story behind the design, the challenges involved and the lessons learned.
The sessions are recorded and featured on the RIAS YouTube channel.
September | The Doolan Award Journey Begins
If your project receives an RIAS Award, it will be considered for the RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award - the highest accolade for architecture in Scotland.
The Doolan Award shortlist is decided by a new judging panel, following a second set of in-person visits over the summer. Revealing the projects in the running to be named Scotland’s best building is always a highly anticipated moment in the RIAS Awards calendar. This year, you may have seen Libby Heathcote - RIAS President and one of Doolan Award judges - on TV, where she discussed the three shortlisted projects on BBC Scotland.
In addition, we work closely with photographer and videographer Jim Stephenson on an special film series about the shortlist, and continue to expand our awards event programme to include exhibitions and panel discussions, to help our shortlisted practices make the most of this exciting milestone.
Video produced by Jim Stephenson for Fairburn Tower, Simpson and Brown.
November | Doolan Award Winner Announcement
Doolan Award shortlisted practices are invited to the RIAS Doolan Award Reception, where the winner is announced. This is an opportunity to celebrate with your team and clients, and network with others in the industry.
The winning project gains additional visibility across RIAS channels, with a multi-page, dedicated feature in the RIAS Review. Press included XX and XX. The project will also be showcased in a special winners edition of Jim’s video series.
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, and the wider public. In 2026, this was hosted by the V&A Dundee.
