The transformation of an empty High Street retail space into a library which forms the heart of the Paisley Learning and Cultural Hub was singled out by the judges for the top honour at the prestigious property awards.

Judging panel chair Tom Barclay, said: “There has often been an awards project that has captured the judge’s imagination, sometimes for their bravery and often for the determination of the partners involved, to succeed. This year was one of those years.

“As one of the judges who visited this project, I couldn’t fail to be blown away, not just by the technical challenge and architectural solution, but by the human stories that emerged from this venture, taking a building that dates back to the 1870s and creating a ‘public living room’, promoting a safe space for all generations to come together, to play, to learn, or simply to engage.”

The four-story library blends modern design with community-focused amenities and includes a welcoming reception, a vibrant children’s library, and a storytelling area, as well as a unique play structure, complete with a climbing wall and slide, which was co-designed by renowned Scottish artist Claire Barclay.

The upper floors house a variety of community spaces, including an outdoor terrace, study areas for young adults, and multipurpose rooms for events, such as the Paisley Book Festival, author talks, Bookbug sessions for families, and storytelling workshops.

Operated by culture and leisure trust OneRen, the hub is a £7 million investment by Renfrewshire Council as the local authority continues to regenerate Paisley and the surrounding areas by giving people new reasons to visit the town centre.

Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes, Renfrewshire Council’s cultural spokesperson and chair of OneRen, said: “I’m delighted the library has been recognised by the judges as being worthy of special recognition as it is a fantastic facility that we are incredibly proud of.

“The project has transformed an empty unit on the High Street into a thriving hub for the local community and it is now an inviting place for people to visit, learn and study in - and the team behind the project deserve every award that is coming their way.

“As a council, we are making a sustained investment in our cultural offering with the Town Hall now one of Scotland’s top entertainment venues, the Arts Centre a premier location for arts performances, and the Museum set to be a world-class visitor destination when it reopens next year.

“We are making a real, tangible difference to Paisley town centre and wider Renfrewshire through our capital investment and this latest award for Paisley Central Library is testament to the quality of work being undertaken.”

The library has already been recognised after winning ESG Refurbishment of the Year at the Scottish Property Awards and the Physical category at the EDGE Awards, taking home silver in the Regeneration Category at the Scottish Design Awards, and is nominated for an AJ Architecture Award.

Ewan Imrie, architect & director at Collective Architecture, added: “At Collective Architecture, we are incredibly proud to have contributed to the transformation of Paisley Central Library. Our vision was to create a space that not only serves as a cultural and educational hub but also reflects the community’s identity and spirit.

“The integration of unique design elements like the play structure, designed in collaboration with artist Claire Barclay, and the modern, welcoming interior has greatly enhanced how the public interacts with this space. Being recognised with the ‘Special Recognition Award’ at the Herald Property Awards is a testament to the collaborative efforts of everyone involved.”

The building was delivered in partnership with hub West Scotland.

Operations director Kevin Doyle said ” We are delighted that the Paisley Central Library was rewarded with the Judges Special Recognition award and immensely proud of the team’s hard work and dedication to a really challenging project. It’s great to see the continuing positive impact that the library is having on the local community.”

There was further success for the council at the awards as the completion of 101 new council houses and shared equity homes in partnership with AS Homes won the ‘Best Regeneration Project - Residential’ award.