A theatre foyer, a distillery, a new art school building, and a cinema are in the running for a major architect award after being named on a shortlist.

 

The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) has announced a 24 strong shortlist for its 2015 awards.

Judges received 65 submissions from throughout Scotland ranging in scale from a new take on a dormer window in the capital to the well-publicised new Reid Building for Glasgow School of Art.

The shortlist for Scotland includes Dalmunach Distillery, Moray, designed by architects Archial Norr in Inverness.

Its citation reads: "Elegantly addressing the functional requirements of a contemporary distillery, this building also draws upon the rich history of such buildings."

The new extension at Glasgow Film Theatre by NORD Architecture, also makes it on to the shortlist.

Judges said of it: "Carefully inserted within the historic fabric, this third screen is respectful to the materials and form of the much loved original."

The new Theatre Royal extension in Glasgow by Page\Park Architects is described as "creating a welcoming entrance foyer and embracing a sinuous stair".

Iain Connelly, President of the RIAS, said: "This number of entries is a tremendous vote of confidence and confirms that the award, in only its fourth year, is the single most important recognition of architectural achievement in Scotland.

The judges will visit all 24 shortlisted schemes to determine which are worthy of an award. The judges are considering a plethora of projects of different scale and type, but they will only be rewarding those projects which they feel best address the key role of architecture: to improve the quality of people's lives. Looking at this brilliant list, they've got a tough job ahead."

RIAS Secretary, Neil Baxter, said: "These awards bring together individual awards sponsored by the Scottish Government, Historic Scotland, Wood for Good/Forestry Commission Scotland and Zero Waste Scotland and incorporate the RIBA Awards for Scotland. Over the last four years these awards have become firmly established as the most significant recognition of the benefits delivered by excellent architecture.

"It is a huge credit to the profession in Scotland that, despite sometimes savage cost cutting, the remarkable work illustrated in this shortlist is still being produced."