Announced and presented at a drinks reception in the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation, attended by around one hundred architects, sponsors and their guests, the format of this year’s awards was changed to enable all entries built within the chapter area in the Large, Small, Regeneration & Conservation and Wood categories to become eligible for the overall accolade.

The awards were also opened up to chartered architects working in other areas of the UK, who have completed projects within the Edinburgh Chapter area.

A record 57 entries were submitted this year with the 11 shortlisted projects visited by the judging panel in early April.

The judging panel this year comprised of Julie Wilson RIAS – EAA vice president, Roderick Binns RIAS – EAA council member, Joann Russell – head of estate at Historic Environment Scotland and Professor Christopher Breward – principal of Edinburgh College of Art.

On awarding Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries the overall accolade, head judge Julie Wilson said: “The judges were unanimous when it came to agreeing the Building of the Year. The winner is a beautifully crafted building, which is a rich, mature piece of architecture.”

Architect Richard Murphy said: “We are delighted to have won the major accolade of the Edinburgh Architectural Association’s ‘Building of the Year.’ Of course the building is not in Edinburgh, although in the Association’s patch, and we are very pleased that it beat several strong contenders from within the city.

“It is a great credit to Fife Council to have held firstly an architectural competition and then to have followed through with the vision over the intervening ten years to finally realise what we hope will be an innovative building that will be taken to the hearts of the people of the town and beyond.

“A contemporary building at the heart of a conservation area is not an easy project to bring about but we hope that this building, in the fullness of time, will take its place alongside its historic neighbours as part of a continuing development of the town’s illustrious history.”

Other winners on the night include:

Large Project: Sponsored by Fakro GB Ltd

The Large project award is given to acknowledge and publicise excellence in architecture for a completed project within the Chapter area with a contract sum of over £500,000. It may be a new building, an extension, an alteration or a conversion, and it must have been designed by a Chartered Architect. All shortlisted projects in the chapter area were eligible

Shortlist

Winner: Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries by Richard Murphy Architects

Commendation: Holyrood North Student Accommodation & Outreach Centre by Oberlanders Architects / JM Architects & John C Hope Architects

Regeneration and Conservation: Sponsored by Cupa Pizarras

This Award makes an annual award for a building within the Chapter area which has been sensitively and effectively restored, converted, regenerated, extended or refurbished by a Chartered Architect, thereby encouraging the successful integration of the old and the new.

Shortlist

Winner: Dalkeith Country Park Including Restoration Yard & Fort Douglas by Buccleuch Estates in association with Malcolm Fraser Architects & Blue Forest

Small Projects:

The Small Projects Award is given to acknowledge and publicise excellence in architecture for a completed project within the chapter area with a contract sum of under £500,000. It may be a new building, an extension, an alteration or a conversion and it must have been designed by a Chartered Architect.

Shortlist

Winner: Ravelston Dykes Lane by Konishi Gaffney Architects

Commendation: Trinity by Crew Architects

Ambassador Award: Sponsored by Russwood Ltd

The EAA Ambassador Award is to acknowledge and publicises excellence in architecture for a completed project outside the Chapter area. It may be a new building, an extension, an alteration or a conversion and it must have been designed by a Chartered Architect working within the EAA Chapter area.

Shortlist

Winner: Rievaulx Abbey Visitor Centre & Museum Project by Simpson & Brown Architects

Wood Award: Sponsored by Forestry Commission Scotland and Wood for Good

The Forestry Commission Scotland and Wood for Good have combined to sponsor an award aimed at encouraging innovative and creative use of timber in new buildings in Scotland. The award seeks also to stimulate greater appreciation of home grown timber and its potential for use in construction, with added consideration given to thoughtful and appropriate use of different species. There is no restriction on building type or scale of project it must have been designed by a Chartered Architect working within the EAA Chapter area.

Shortlist

Winner: Thistle Foundation Centre Of Wellbeing by 3D Reid

An exhibition showcasing the winners and shortlisted entries is on display at the RIAS, Joyce B Deans room at 15 Rutland Square, Edinburgh until May 9. It is open to the public from 9.00am until 5.00pm Monday to Friday.