Aberdeen’s Union Terrace Gardens has been named one of Scotland’s top architectural achievements in the 2025 RIAS Awards, joining 10 other standout projects recognised for design excellence.
The prestigious annual awards, presented by the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS), celebrate the best in contemporary Scottish architecture. Union Terrace Gardens was praised as a “benchmark in public-realm regeneration,” following a major transformation led by Stallan-Brand Architecture + Design in collaboration with LDA Design.
Describing the development as a “reclamation of Aberdeen’s green heart”, the judges highlighted the integration of three pavilion buildings within the historic parkland, now home to a café, restaurant, and wine bar. Conservation work also included restoration of Victorian statues, railings, arcade arches, and even the long-closed subterranean public toilets, which have now been reopened.
“This exemplary transformation reclaims Union Terrace Gardens as Aberdeen’s green heart,” the jury noted. “It demonstrates the power of sensitive, people-centred design to transform a city’s sense of place.”
Also representing the north-east among the winners was the Gairnshiel Jubilee Bridge in Aberdeenshire. Designed to relieve pressure on the historic 18th-century structure nearby, the new bridge was commended for its bold geometry, robust materials and minimal environmental impact.
“This is a fine example of how to integrate a modern bridge into a sensitive rural setting,” judges said, citing its use of recycled granite and weathering steel.
The full list of RIAS Award winners will form the longlist for the 2025 Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award. A shortlist will be announced in July, with the overall winner revealed in November.
Chair of the judging panel, Jessam Al-Jawad, praised the diversity of this year’s winners:
“Across the board, we saw a deep care for context, sustainability and the people who use these buildings. From bold civic architecture to quiet conservation, these projects highlight the extraordinary breadth of talent in Scottish architecture today.”
Other winners included conservation projects like Aldourie Castle on Loch Ness, social housing regeneration in Dundee, and contemporary rural homes on the Isle of Harris.
Union Terrace Gardens’ inclusion on this prestigious list marks a significant moment for Aberdeen’s built environment, celebrating the return of a long-underused city centre space as a vibrant, accessible and well-loved community asset.
