A new campus building at the University of Edinburgh designed by Sheppard Robson has been shortlisted for the prestigious RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award. The project, known as the Nucleus Building, is being featured in a video series produced by Jim Stephenson in collaboration with Dezeen Magazine and the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) to showcase the 2025 award finalists.
The Nucleus Building serves as a comprehensive facility providing teaching, learning, and social spaces for both students and faculty at the University of Edinburgh. University professor Iain Gordon has described the innovative structure as a "beating heart" for the campus, emphasizing its central role in university life. The building's design focuses heavily on what Sheppard Robson partner Stacey Phillips calls "legibility," ensuring that the layout is intuitive and responsive to its surrounding environment.
Phillips explained the thoughtful distribution of spaces within the building, noting that the design strategy was highly contextual. "The distribution of spaces in the building is a bit of a no-brainer in terms of it responds to its context," Phillips stated. "The study spaces, which need light and you want them to have views and connection between inside and outside, and connection to internal spaces as well – a lot of the other spaces don't demand any of that." The architects strategically positioned study areas and social spaces to face the campus's green heart, while placing lecture theaters and other large container spaces behind these more interactive areas.
The architectural firm made deliberate choices about spatial organization, with Phillips adding, "You've got a number of lecture theatres, which are big containers, effectively – it made sense to put them behind the study spaces and social spaces facing the green heart." This arrangement maximizes natural light and views for areas where students spend extended periods while efficiently utilizing space for larger gathering areas that don't require the same environmental considerations.
The Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award, established in 2002, is an annual recognition that celebrates outstanding Scottish architectural projects. This year's competition features a diverse four-project shortlist that RIAS says demonstrates "architecture's place alongside other disciplines." The range of nominated projects spans from rural infrastructure developments to urban public-realm initiatives, showcasing the breadth of contemporary Scottish architecture.
Competing alongside the University of Edinburgh's Nucleus Building are three other notable projects: the comprehensive renovation of Union Terrace Gardens by Stallan-Brand and LDA Design, the historic restoration of Fairburn Tower by Simpson & Brown, and the striking stone Gairnshiel Jubilee Bridge designed by Moxon Architects. Each project represents different aspects of Scottish architectural excellence, from urban landscape design to heritage preservation and infrastructure development.
The winner of this year's Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award is scheduled to be announced on December 5th. The video documentation and photography showcasing these finalist projects are courtesy of architectural photographer Jim Stephenson, whose work captures the essence and craftsmanship of each nominated building. This recognition highlights the continued innovation and quality in Scottish architecture, with the University of Edinburgh's Nucleus Building representing the successful integration of educational facilities with thoughtful, context-sensitive design.
