Riverside Primary School, Perth, by Architype is joined by a wide range of impactful projects vying for the honours Scotlands national architecture awards and the first step of the journey towards the RIBA Stirling Prize.They include the successful revamp of Union Terrace Gardens, Aberdeen, which was finally delivered by Stallan-Brand Architecture + Design and LDA Design after years of failed proposals by others, and Holmes Miller Architects new 85 million womens prison in Stirling.There are also places among the finalists for Ptolemy Dean Architects conservation of a Category A-listed castle on the banks of Loch Ness, a sculptural new-build home by Izat Arundell which wraps around an existing rockface in the Outer Hebrides and the humble but effective Kilmartin Museum, Argyll and Bute, by Reiach and Hall Architects.AdvertisementGlasgow-based Threesixty Architecture has two schemes on the shortlist: the Dundreggan Rewilding Centre in the Highlands and the nine-storey Port of Leith Distillery, which is claimed to be Scotlands first vertical distillery.The number of projects in the running for RIAS honours continues to grow year on year (see full list below). In 2023 13 schemes were shortlisted and last year that number grew to 17, with 11 going on to pick up awards last June. Source:McAteer PhotoDundreggan Rewilding Centre, Highlands, by Threesixty ArchitectureThe winners of this years RIAS Awards will be announced at the end of May. As in previous years, the victorious projects will also make up the longlist for the RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award.Recipients of the 2025 RIAS Awards are also eligible for recognition in the current RIBA Awards cycle.Tamsie Thomson, chief executive of the RIAS, said: Year on year, we strive to encourage entries from all corners of Scotland, and these 21 projects offer a fantastic representation of exceptional design thinking in rural and urban settings. The strength of this shortlist is the diversity of project types, which provide people from all walks of life with high-quality, sustainable and innovative architecture for working, learning, and living.AdvertisementShe added: I am very much looking forward to joining our judges as they visit each of the shortlisted projects next month, as they have the undoubtedly tough task of choosing our winners. It will be an honour to celebrate our winning practices and projects at our awards ceremony in the spring.The 2025 RIAS Awards jury includes Ann Nisbet, founder of Ann Nisbet Studio, Craig Hamilton, founding director of Craig Hamilton Architects and Caroline Grewar, programme director at V&A Dundee. The panel is chaired by Jessam Al-Jawad, director of 2024 Stirling Prize-shortlisted and last years Neave Brown Award winners Al-Jawad Pike Architects. Source:Paul TyagiRock Cove, Argyll and Bute, by CameronWebster ArchitectsThe 2025 RIAS Awards shortlistAdam Smith Building, University of Glasgow by HassellAldourie Castle Estate, Highlands by Ptolemy Dean ArchitectsAthron Hill - Phases 1 & 2, Kinross by Fraser/Livingstone ArchitectsCaochan na Creige, Isle of Harris by Izat ArundellChryston Community Hub, North Lanarkshire by Ryder ArchitectureDundreggan Rewilding Centre, Highlands by Threesixty ArchitectureEllegowan Regeneration, Dundee by Collective ArchitectureFairburn Tower, Highlands by Simpson & BrownGairnshiel Jubilee Bridge, Aberdeenshire by Moxon ArchitectsGartnerichnich Cottage, Stirling by Dualchas ArchitectsHarmeny Outdoor Learning Hub, Edinburgh by Loader Monteith & Studio SJM ArchitectsHMP & YOI Stirling by Holmes Miller ArchitectsKilmartin Museum, Argyll and Bute by Reiach and Hall ArchitectsKinloch Lodge, Highland by GRASRiverside Primary School, Perth by ArchitypeRock Cove, Argyll and Bute by CameronWebster ArchitectsRosebank Distillery, Falkirk by MLAThe Nucleus Building, University of Edinburgh by Sheppard RobsonThe Port of Leith Distillery, Edinburgh by Threesixty ArchitectureThe Seed, Dundee by Kirsty Maguire ArchitectUnion Terrace Gardens, Aberdeen by Stallan-Brand Architecture + Design & LDA Design Source:Jim StephensonHarmeny School, by Loader Monteith and Studio SJM