Small Animal Hospital by Archial Architects Named 'Best Building in Scotland'

The Small Animal Hospital by Archial Architects has been awarded the RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award 2009. From a shortlist of eleven projects the judges selected the Small Animal Hospital as a clear winner. Their citation for the building highlights the “unique and ingenious way it integrates a very substantial medical facility within the parkland setting of Glasgow University’s Garscube Estate”.

The full citation reads:

The new Small Animal Hospital is located at the entrance to the grounds of Garscube Estate and forms part of the University of Glasgow’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. It provides state of the art services for animal owners and referring practitioners.

Internally the building is simply organized both horizontally and vertically with a clear division of public and private hospital space. The working hospital, set behind the gabion wall, is focused around a central treatment hub which acts as the heart of the building. There are clear and unrestricted views towards day-care, intensive care, operation suites, diagnostics and oncology.

The building is set unobtrusively into its setting, a massive grassed roof creating a new hillside within the landscape. The building’s great triumph is the unique and ingenious way it integrates a very substantial medical facility within the parkland setting of Glasgow University’s Garscube Estate. However, the rooftop ‘lantern’ and the boldly defined entrance ensure that this superb building declares its presence and scale. This is a highly complex work of architecture which sets new standards in the design of buildings for veterinary medicine.”

The building was selected from a strong shortlist which represented a comprehensive range of building types, including two restoration projects and buildings in both urban and landscape settings.

This year’s judges were Professor Andrew MacMillan (Chair), David Dunbar PRIAS, Ian Gilzean ARIAS, Professor Kathryn Findlay ARIAS and Ian Ritchie CBE RIBA.

The winner of the RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award receives a trophy designed by the glass artist Siobhan Healy and a check for £25,000. This makes it the richest architectural prize in the UK and one of the most significant awards in Europe. The award is generously supported by the late Andrew Doolan’s family and by the Scottish Government.

Michael Russell MSP, Minister for Culture, commented; “I commend the quality of this year’s shortlist which shows that Scottish architecture today is a match for the best internationally. We are all operating in tough economic times and it is vitally important for Scottish businesses and Scottish places to be associated with quality. The RIAS Andrew Doolan Award celebrates quality in the profession and shows that architects and the places they design are central to shaping a Scotland in which we all can prosper.”

The chair of the judging panel, Professor Andrew MacMillan, a close friend of the award’s founder, Andrew Doolan, said; “Andrew Doolan’s belief that this award would reflect the growing confidence of post devolution Scotland has been borne out by shortlists which get better and better year on year. While the Small Animal Hospital was the judge’s unanimous choice as winner a number of other buildings came very close. Scottish architecture is in remarkably good heart.”

Ian Ritchie CBE, whose practice has offices in London and Paris, commented; “There were five projects on the shortlist which stand comparison with the best new architecture anywhere in Europe - the Beatson Institute New Cancer Research Facility, Glasgow by Reiach & Hall Architects, the Boathhouse at Balnearn, Loch Tay by McKenzie Strickland Associates, the Infirmary Street Baths, Edinburgh by Malcolm Fraser Architects, the New Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow by Reiach and Hall Architects and the Small Animal Hospital, Glasgow by Archial Architects. Scotland’s architects are currently producing work which is worthy of international recognition. Let’s hope the Doolan Awards are a major step in that direction.”

David Dunbar, the President of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, noted; “Architects are having a very tough time at present. The recession has hit hard. This award demonstrates the fantastic quality that is being achieved by indigenous talent. We are working with the Government and our colleagues among Scotland’s client groups and the construction industry to ensure that we support and retain this tremendous asset. The quality of Scotland’s future built environment will depend upon it.”