Architecture and Design Scotland News
10 June 2026
Architecture and Design Scotland Business Plan News
Architecture and Design Scotland outlines business plan, announces strategic partnerships and previews pop-up exhibitions space.
(10 June 2026) Architecture and Design Scotland, the Scottish Government’s architecture and design agency, brought together key industry leaders at an event at their base at Edinburgh Futures Institute on Tuesday evening, to announce their Business Plan for the year ahead, two new strategic partnerships and a preview of A&DS : SpACE, which will be a temporary exhibition and event space, where Scotland’s architecture sector will be showcased.
The Architecture and Design Scotland Business Plan for 2026/27 reflects the growing importance of design in addressing national priorities, including the climate transition, housing delivery, economic renewal and citizens’ wellbeing.
Image taken from A&DS Business Plan 2026/27 event by Aly Wight – From left to right Meredith More (V&A Dundee), Jim MacDonald (A&DS), Stephen Good (BE-ST), Tamsie Thomson (RIAS):
photo : Aly Wight
A strong role for design
Architecture and Design Scotland will focus on strengthening the sector’s capacity and impact through a programme that supports sector development, fosters strategic partnerships and demonstrates the value of design.
Jim MacDonald, Chief Executive of Architecture and Design Scotland, said:
“In our Business Plan for 2026/27 we set out an important step forward for our organisation and the sector. We are honing our focus to better support the people and organisations who design and shape Scotland’s buildings and places.
Design has a critical role to play in meeting the challenges we face, and we are committed to helping unlock its full potential.”
Collaboration for success
Collaboration is critical to achieve impact, and at the event, two new strategic partnerships were announced.
One partnership – between Architecture and Design Scotland and BE-ST, Scotland’s national innovation centre for construction and the built environment – will see the organisations work closely together to align the design and innovation in the built environment. Stephen Good, CEO of Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST), said:
“We are excited to welcome this new partnership between BE-ST and A&DS. There is clear alignment between our two organisations and a shared focus on driving policy for the built environment, which delivers better place outcomes, higher quality, climate resilient architecture and design, and more opportunities for all related sectors and supply chains.
“BE-ST and A&DS are dedicated to accelerating the built environment’s just transition to net zero. We’re looking forward to working together to identify new ways of delivering place-based, housing-led regeneration that maximises the potential for bio-based materials and modern methods of construction (MMC), like Scotland’s world-class timber offsite manufacturing capability, to support the architecture and built environment sectors to thrive and create the neighbourhoods and infrastructure Scotland’s communities deserves.”
Promoting the value of design
A further partnership was announced at the event, which sees A&DS, the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) and V&A Dundee collaborating to support Scottish architecture and the design sector.
Announcing the partnership, Leonie Bell, Director of V&A Dundee, said:
“As V&A Dundee, Scotland’s design museum, we are looking forward to working with our partners Architecture and Design Scotland and RIAS to celebrate Scotland’s architects and architecture. Good architecture and design underpins our lives every day, creating spaces and places that help us, give us hope and makes us happy. Through this partnership, we will champion the role of architecture in Scotland as something to be supported, developed and celebrated at home in Scotland and around the world.”
Speaking about the partnership, Tamsie Thomson, Chief Executive of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS), said:
“We are excited to be working with Architecture and Design Scotland and V&A Dundee, as this new partnership presents an invaluable opportunity to combine our efforts, to amplify the importance of good architecture for Scotland, and strengthen its visibility.
From the places that we love and care about, to the spaces that we rely on, good architecture matters because it shapes everyday life. It inspires us, while supporting how we choose to live, work and play. With that comes the responsibility of taking architecture and its impact on people seriously. Through this collaboration, we want to support and champion the people and practices that make up and represent our sector, in celebration of all that Scottish architecture has to offer. Together, we will be able to make sure that this continues to grow in Scotland and beyond.”
A forward programme focused on impact
With the Business Plan for 2026/27 now launched, Architecture and Design Scotland will begin rolling out a series of initiatives over the coming months, working closely with strategic partners across the sector to deliver meaningful, long-term impact.
The Business Plan for 2026/27 sets out a clear list of priorities for the organisation:
• Accelerate growth, build capacity and create opportunity across Scotland’s architecture and design sector
• Unlock better housing outcomes through design-led innovation
• Embed user-centred and design-led approaches in major public sector capital investment projects, including health and learning estates
At the event, Architecture and Design Scotland presented a short film that captured the challenges and opportunities facing the architecture sector in Scotland. The film – produced by Lateral North – shares the voices of three architects in Scotland and reflects on their daily experience practising in Scotland. The video is available here.
+++
Previously on e-architect:
17 June 2025
Architecture and Design Scotland Review News
Culture Secretary welcomes recommendations.
Review of Architecture and Design Scotland
Recommendations to enhance the role of Scotland’s national body for architecture and design have been published, following a review to ensure it remains fit for purpose.
Two decades on from its establishment in 2005, the review of Architecture & Design Scotland (A&DS) highlights that AD&S has played an important role in Scotland to champion architecture and placemaking but that change is now required in order for A&DS to operate with maximum impact.
Key recommendations include A&DS taking a more direct focus on sector development to deliver the economic, cultural, and social benefits of good architecture and design.
The importance of collaboration and partnerships to grow capacity and increase impact is also highlighted.
Culture Secretary Angus Robertson marked the publication with a visit to The Burrell Collection today (Tuesday 17 June), which won the 2024 RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award.
Mr Robertson said:
“This report signals the Scottish Government’s continuing support for architecture and design, and I believe, an exciting new direction for Architecture & Design Scotland.
“I am confident that with A&DS focusing more directly on supporting and developing the architecture sector, we can better deliver the economic, cultural, and social benefits of good architecture and design. The report also highlights the importance of collaboration and partnerships across Scotland’s creative workforce to grow our collective capacity and increase impact across Scotland and beyond.
“I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Chair, Board, and staff at Architecture & Design Scotland for their positive and collaborative approach throughout the review process. I also want to thank the members of Scotland’s architecture and design community, and all those who participated in the review to help shape this important work.”
Jim MacDonald, Chief Executive of Architecture & Design Scotland said:
“We welcome the findings of the review and the continued support from the Scottish Government. This marks an important moment for Architecture and Design Scotland as we evolve to ensure our work delivers the greatest possible impact for people and places across Scotland.
We are proud of the role we have played over the past two decades in championing good design, and we look forward to building on this legacy. By working more closely with partners across the sector, we can grow our collective capacity and ensure that architecture and design contribute meaningfully to Scotland’s economic, social, and cultural wellbeing.”
Tamsie Thomson, Chief Executive of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) said:
“The RIAS warmly welcomes the reviews recognition of the architectural sector, as an economically important part of Scotland’s creative industries, both in terms of employment and Gross Value Added (GVA). There is much to build on. The RIAS looks forward to working with a refocused A&DS, and other partners, to ensure policies in areas such as planning and procurement align to unlock the sectors’ full potential.”
Background:
Review of Architecture & Design Scotland Summary Report – gov.scot
Previously on e-architect:
19 July 2016
Architecture and Design Scotland News
Winners announced in A&DS and RIAS Scottish Student Awards for Architecture 2016
Daniel Cardno’s project proposing transition from skills associated with the oil and gas industry towards an economy concentrated on maritime industry and tourism won the RIAS Rowand Anderson Silver Medal, as Maelys Garreau picked up the A&DS Award for best 3rd year student with her proposed design for a “catch-up” institution for previously hospitalized children using outdoor play.
Their projects were just some of the high quality student projects awarded at the annual Architecture and Design Scotland (A&DS) and the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) Scottish Student Awards for Architecture.
A&DS and RIAS Scottish Student Awards for Architecture 2016
29 May 2012
Scottish Architecture Policy Consultation
Shaping Scotland’s future
Culture Secretary launches architecture policy consultation
A consultation on Scotland’s new architecture and placemaking policy is an opportunity to build a better world, the Culture Secretary said.
Fiona Hyslop made the comments as she launched the consultation at an International Design Summit at The Lighthouse in Glasgow. The consultation will run until September 7, 2012, supported by an exhibition featuring inspiring design projects which has been curated by Architecture and Design Scotland (A+DS).
Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop and Karen Anderson at launch of consultation and exhibition in Glasgow:
picture from A+DS
Ms Hyslop said:
“Good architecture and design is important to Scotland, making a significant contribution to our society, our economy and our communities.
“With our architecture and design industry generating around £1.3 billion each year for our economy, and construction output in Scotland last year valued at an estimated £11 billion, the economic benefits are clear.
“Well designed buildings and places have a vital role to play in our society. They strengthen our communities – improving well-being and enriching lives – helping people and business to flourish and fulfil their potential. Our historic build environment enhances our understanding and appreciation of our surroundings and contributes to our sense of national identity.
“We want to encourage the creation of buildings and places with which people can identify. This consultation on our new architecture and placemaking policy will, quite literally, shape Scotland’s future. It is an opportunity to build a better world and I urge everyone to have their say.
“It is particularly appropriate, in the Year of Creative Scotland, that the consultation is being launched at an International Design Summit in Glasgow. This emphasises the importance both of what we can learn from abroad and what Scotland can offer to the world.”
Welcoming the consultation process, Karen Anderson, Chair of A+DS, said:
“By engaging with as wide an audience as possible to create a strategic vision for the future of our built environment, the Scottish Government is showing its commitment to ensuring that architecture and place continue to play an important part in the sustainable development of Scotland.”
“To support the policy process, Architecture and Design Scotland will open ‘Input and Ideas’ on the 30th of May at The Lighthouse, Glasgow – a public exhibition which encourages the public to engage and participate in the consultation on the new architecture policy for Scotland.”
Background
The Scottish Government consultation will run until September, 7 2012. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/publications/2012/05/8766
As part of the consultation process, a series of stakeholder consultation workshops will be held in the coming weeks in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Galashiels, Glasgow and Inverness.
The International Design Summit on May 29-30 at The Lighthouse in Glasgow will be attended by 140 leading architects, local authority planning directors and officers and a mix of other built environment professionals and key bodies with an interest in the built environment together with a number of architecture students.
The exhibition curated by Architecture and Design Scotland (A+DS) to support the consultation process – Input and Ideas: Rethinking Scotland’s Policy on Architecture and Place – opens to the public on May 30, 2012 at The Lighthouse in Glasgow and allows the public to draw inspiration from nominated projects over the past ten years and create their own response to the consultation.
25 Jan 2010
Architecture and Design Scotland News in 2010
Karen Anderson – A+DS Chair
anderson bell + christie’s Karen Anderson named as the new chair of A+DS, succeeding Raymond Young on 1 Apr 2010
4 Nov 2009
A+DS School Design
Architecture and Design Scotland has launched its new school design web resource Smarter Places.
This unique resource has been designed to deliver a simple objective; to provide everyone who wants to participate in school design with the means to explore and share their ideas.
Keith Brown, Minister for Schools and Skills, said: “The Smarter Places web resource will allow all those who wish to participate in designing Scotland’s future schools to now have the opportunity to explore school design and communicate their ideas.
“This new tool is entirely consistent with the importance that the Scottish Government has placed on good design and consultation in our School Estate Strategy – Building Better Schools.
“By using images, videos and downloads, all those with an interest in good school design – be that young people, teachers, planners, architects or parents – can now access many interesting examples from schools across Scotland.”
A spokesman for A+DS said: “Getting feedback from pupils, parents, teachers and the wider community when designing a school can be vital; not least because they can have exceptional ideas. Smarter Places allows users to create a scrapbook of different elements of a school that they like. This scrapbook can then be shared with others in a variety of ways, giving people the opportunity to evolve and communicate their ideas about the sort of school they want to see.”
The launch of Smarter Places was hosted by the University of Edinburgh Architecture department as part of a joint event that also marks the publication of a book by Fiona McLachlan and Rachael Hallett “Thinking, Teaching, Learning: Explorations in Primary School Design”.
www.smarterplaces.org
Architecture and Design Scotland – 30 Mar 2007:
Scotland and the Netherlands : Landscape Architecture Think Tank
Leading practitioners in landscape architecture and design from Scotland and the Netherlands will come together for a two day think tank this weekend (Friday 30th and Saturday 31st March 2007) to explore the themes, issues and challenges which face natural landscapes in the two countries.
With both countries facing pressures on their natural areas, this think tank entitled ‘Panorama’ is an opportunity to learn from each other’s experiences and responses to landscape, development pressures, conservation and tourism.
Fifty eight delegates will attend the two day event in Glasgow which includes discussion around current policy and practice, the historical context and challenges for the future with contributions from leading practitioners and experts from both countries. The second day of the think tank will give delegates the opportunity put their discussions into context with a trip to the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park.
Speaking before the event Brian Evans, Deputy Chair of A+DS, who is co-chairing the event said-
“This event brings together leaders in policy, design and research from the Netherlands and Scotland for an important opportunity to learn from each other and reflect on future challenges facing the environment and landscapes of northern Europe.
“The Dutch are renowned internationally for quality and innovation in landscape planning and design and although the natural landscapes of Scotland and the Netherlands are very different I believe we can learn a lot from one another. We are delighted to welcome our colleagues to Scotland for these two days to share experience, develop knowledge and examine issues.”
The Panorama Scotland / Netherlands think tank will take place on 30 + 31 March at the Lighthouse in Glasgow and on location at the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.
The event is co-organised by Architecture and Design Scotland, the Architecture Policy Unit of the Scottish Executive and Architectuur Lokaal– the lead architecture body in the Netherlands – with additional support from the Dutch Embassy, Ministries of Culture and Economic Affairs in the Netherlands
A report summarising the debate and discussion will be produced following the think tank.
News Update – Feb 2007
In the same week as the Architecture Policy update was launched the A+DS deputy, Malcolm Fraser, resigns his position following unease with A+DS’s lack of criticism of the Scottish Executive’s PFI policy for schools, hospitals, etc.
Link: Scottish PFI
Scottish Architecture Policy
Architecture and Design Scotland – Promoting Good Scottish Building Design
From April this year Architecture and Design Scotland will become Scotland’s new champion for good architecture, design and planning in the built environment. A key part of A+DS’s work will be to demand excellence in development from housing estates to major cultural buildings and in all parts of the country.
The aim is to raise the quality of new development, so that high standards of layout and design are the rule, not the exception. Overall, the development of well designed and attractive cities, towns and villages will support Ministers’ determination to make Scotland a better place to live, work and visit.
Urban Design: time to Take Stock takes place at The Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, the National Galleries of Scotland Edinburgh on Feb 24
RIAS 0131 229 7545
FERGUSON HAS DESIGNS ON QUALITY ARCHITECTURE
Details of the team which will take forward the Executive’s ambitious plans to make Scotland an outstanding place to visit, work and live by enhancing the quality of our natural and built heritage, will be announced today by Patricia Ferguson.
And the Minister will call on Scotland’s new architecture body – Architecture and Design Scotland – to champion the importance of good design and reinforce the value of creating quality spaces for everyone.
Speaking ahead of the ‘Urban Design: Time to Take Stock’ Conference at The National Galleries of Scotland in Edinburgh, the Minister, who has responsibility for architecture policy, said: ‘Promoting excellence in architecture and creating more opportunities for good quality developments which respect the Scotland’s landscape and building tradition are key to realising our ambitions.
‘Better design can help create a better environment for us all to enjoy – be it the worker, the resident, or the visitor. And central to this is ensuring that good design runs through all that we do when designing and developing our built environment. This ensures improvement in the spaces around us and raises the quality of life for everyone in the community.
‘I believe places that flourish are those that have a distinct character, are safe, accessible and pleasant for people to enjoy, that are welcoming to occupants and visitors alike, can adapt to change, and that promote sustainability of resources.
These are key tenets of the Executive’s policy on how we should progress in designing our environment and building communities for the future.
‘I’m delighted that we are announcing today the Advisory Board and the Chief Executive – the remaining members of the team who will be championing this cause – supporting and reinforcing the desire for design quality. Architecture and Design Scotland will, as of 1st April, be playing a key part in driving forward the Executive’s plans. I look forward to working with this team in the coming months in realising our architecture and design policy ambitions for Scotland.”
About Architecture and Design Scotland
Architecture and Design Scotland (A&DS) is Scotland’s national agency driving innovation, positive change and growth in the architecture and design sector in Scotland.
T: 0131 556 6699
For any general queries, please contact (email protected)
Office hours: 9:00-16:30 Mon-Fri.
Architecture and Design Scotland is a company limited by guarantee Company no. SC267870 VAT number 897710965,
Registered office – Edinburgh Futures Institute, 1 Lauriston Place, Edinburgh EH3 9EF
www.ads.org.uk
Location: Scotland
Scottish Architecture
Scottish Architecture Designs – chronological list
Scottish Building News
Scottish Architecture
Rosslyn Castle building news
Design: Page\Park Architects
photo : Jim Stephenson
St Nicholas Kirk Aberdeen building news
photo courtesy of ScotArt
Scottish Buildings Database
Scottish Built Heritage
Comments / photos for the Architecture Design Scotland News – A+DS, Scottish architectural and placemaking national body page welcome.
