The Burrell Collection is one of the leading museums in the country: a Scottish cultural gift housed within a seminal late 20th century building, originally designed by Barry Gasson, John Meunier and Brit Andresen.

John McAslan + Partners were tasked with undertaking the most comprehensive refurbishment of the museum since its opening in 1983: repairing the Grade A listed building, upgrading its environmental performance, and finding ways to enable more of the collection to be displayed.

The result was hailed by the Doolan Award judges as “an outstanding example of problem-solving and future-proofing that has rejuvenated an old friend”, with the judges particularly impressed by how John McAslan + Partners’ respectful and deferential approach has transformed the building, without losing any of its architectural integrity. 

Notably, the Burrell Collection is free to enter, and this retrofit has played a key role in helping to immerse more visitors in all aspects of the collection. In addition to a significant increase in available space for curation and public displays, a series of approachable new entrances has contributed towards a more accessible visitor experience.

The museum can now accommodate larger visitor groups, and with improved connections to the surrounding park, is welcoming new and returning audiences, and enabling everyone to experience its outstanding architecture for themselves. A transformative upgrade to the building’s services will also protect the building and its collection for years to come.

There were five buildings on the shortlist for the 2024 Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award:

• Ardoch, Ballater, Aberdeenshire by Moxon Architects
• North Gate Social Housing, Glasgow by Page\Park Architects
• The Burrell Collection, Glasgow by John McAslan + Partners
• The Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh by Reiach and Hall Architects
• University of Aberdeen Science and Teaching Hub by Reiach and Hall Architects

The Doolan Award judges said that John McAslan + Partners’ refurbishment of the Burrell Collection “makes a bold declaration about the role of architecture – a renewed confidence and belief in it – at a time when Glasgow and Scotland’s creative and cultural industries are in peril”.

US architect Carl Elefante coined the phrase “the greenest building is one that is already built”, and the retrofit of the Burrell Collection is an outstanding example of how an existing building can be adapted successfully. Today, thanks to the £68.25 million Burrell Renaissance Project, the museum is more sustainable, more accessible, and more flexible, making the building better equipped to preserve and display its world-class collection, and to be used in multiple ways to appeal to audiences old and new.

The annual RIAS Doolan Award is assessed by an expert jury who visit each of the shortlisted buildings – drawn from the winners of each year’s RIAS Awards – and look at projects’ architectural integrity, usability and context, delivery and execution, and sustainability. The 2024 RIAS Doolan Award jury was chaired by David Kohn (director, David Kohn Architects) alongside author and journalist Gabriella Bennett and RIAS president Karen Anderson. 

All types of buildings are eligible for the award: previous winners include a house within a remote Ayrshire ruin, an office in a Cairngorms forest clearing, and a whisky distillery. The award is named in memory of its founder and patron, the architect/developer Andrew Doolan, who died twenty years ago in 2004. The Scottish Government generously supports the award. 

RIAS president Karen Anderson PRIAS said: “I’m delighted that the Burrell Collection has been named as the winner of this year’s RIAS Doolan Award. In the skilled hands of John McAslan + Partners, one of Scotland’s architectural gems has been given a new lease of life – saving the building and its incredible collection, and making the museum greener and more welcoming to its thousands of visitors. It is a fantastic example of how an existing building can be adapted to address new and future needs, and is unquestionably this year’s best building in Scotland.”

Angus Robertson, cabinet secretary for culture, constitution and external affairs, said: “The RIAS Doolan Award represents the pinnacle of excellent design in Scotland’s built environment and the Scottish Government is therefore proud to support it as one of the industry’s most important prizes. I am delighted the Burrell Collection has received this year’s accolade, as an outstanding example of environmentally responsible redesign that gives an iconic Scottish building a new lease of life.”

Previous winners of the Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award include:

• 2023 – Cuddymoss, Ayrshire by Ann Nisbet Studio
• 2022 – Quarry Studios, Aberdeenshire by Moxon Architects
• 2021 – Aberdeen Art Gallery, Aberdeen by Hoskins Architects
• 2020 – no award as the COVID-19 pandemic prevented jury visits
• 2019 – The Macallan Distillery and Visitor Experience, Craigellachie by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners
• 2018 – Nucleus, The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Caithness Archive, Caithness by Reiach and Hall Architects
• 2017 – Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries, Dunfermline by Richard Murphy Architects
• 2016 – Saunders Centre, Science & Technology Building, Glasgow by Page\Park Architects
• 2015 – West Burn Lane, St Andrews by Sutherland Hussey Harris
• 2014 – Advocate’s Close, Edinburgh by Morgan McDonnell Architecture Ltd
• 2013 – WASPS South Block, Glasgow by NORD Architecture

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