St Andrew’s Drive by jmarchitects joined healthcare and education buildings, a contemporary Highlands cottage, a new library and a series of major historic building conservation projects as winners of the 2026 RIAS Awards, recognising the very best in Scottish architecture.

The project replaces outdated 1960s housing blocks with 120 high quality new homes within a cohesive, human-scaled and green neighbourhood.

The judges were impressed by the architects’ ambitious approach and ability to make the most of a difficult site, and the scheme’s success in balancing residents’ needs, social interaction, environmental responsibility and resilience for the future.

The full judge’s citation read: “St Andrew’s Drive is an exemplar for socially conscious housing, combining clarity, innovation, and architectural ambition. The masterplan arranges clusters of blocks around central shared greens and sustainable drainage areas, producing a clear, legible diagram and fostering social cohesion.

“Its powerful commitment to quality and equality is evident, with 100% social housing delivered to high standards, ensuring equitable access to well-designed homes.

“The scheme replaces a large monolithic 1960s block, which, after investigation, was deemed as having reached the end of its life. For inspiration, the architects looked to the surrounding historic buildings and streetplan, in particular the staccato arrangement of grand villas across the bank above the site.

“This subsequently fed into the stacked maisonette typology, which demonstrates ingenuity in negotiating a sloped site, optimising daylight, privacy, and external amenity. The external treatment in brick is thoughtfully considered, deliberately modest and economical while situating the project within the existing urban setting, with the subtle choice of colour shades creating a sense of legibility across the large site.

“Circulation, entrances, and communal spaces are thoughtfully designed to balance social interaction and individual household needs. The residences are well laid out with ample storage and generously sized rooms. They are light and airy with balconies that have the potential to become another room in the summer. Residents are reported to be very happy with both their residences, communal spaces and the development as a whole. Provisions for future renewable energy retrofitting demonstrate foresight, environmental responsibility, and adaptability, ensuring the development will remain resilient over time.

“St Andrew’s Drive exemplifies how architecture can deliver both high-quality housing and a sense of community. Its combination of clarity, spatial intelligence, and social purpose makes it a strong contender for the Neave Brown Award. The project demonstrates that socially focused developments can achieve architectural excellence while creating enduring, vibrant communities.”

The 2026 RIAS Awards winners are:

• Edinburgh Futures Institute, Edinburgh by Bennetts Associates
• Iorram, Highlands by Baillie Baillie Architects
• Neilston Learning Campus, East Renfrewshire by BDP
• Paisley Central Library, Paisley by Collective Architecture
• Parkhead Health & Social Care and Community Hub, Glasgow by Hoskins Architects
• Preston Tower, Doocot and Gardens, East Lothian by Groves-Raines Architects Studios
• St Andrew’s Drive Phases 2 & 3, Glasgow by jmarchitects
• Tarlair Outdoor Pool Pavilion, Macduff by Studio Octopi
• The Canna House Project for the National Trust for Scotland, Isle of Canna by LDN Architects
• Usher Building, University of Edinburgh by Hassell

All projects were visited in person by the RIAS Awards judges: Chris Dyson (director, Chris Dyson Architects), Elilidh Izat (director, Izat Arundell), Owen Hopkins (director, the Farrell Centre), and Anna Liu (director, Tonkin Liu and RIBA Awards representative).

The ten winners of the 2026 RIAS Awards will now be considered for the RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award, which will be awarded in November, and are also eligible for the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) National Awards. 

Jury chair Chris Dyson said: “I thoroughly enjoyed the discussions with my fellow jurors. The projects in this year’s top ten were exceptional: our visits and reviews were rigorous and gave us the time and space to appreciate in full the great care and consideration given to craftsmanship, responses to climate change and placemaking.

“In total, our travelling panel covered 850 miles. Scotland really showed us its richness of its urban and natural landscapes and the outstanding quality of architecture being produced within them.”

RIAS president Karen Anderson said: “The RIAS Awards once again demonstrate that great architecture adds value across Scottish society. These ten projects show just how much well-designed buildings, and the re-invention and careful stewardship of our heritage, can give joy and improve our day-to-day lives whether at work, at leisure or at home.

“It’s really important through our awards to be able to recognise the creativity, skills and commitment of the architects and project teams that make great projects happen.”

All images ©Keith Hunter