A renovated building in Glasgow's Merchant City has been named the Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland.

The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) named the South Block studio complex as the winner.

Nord Architecture, which designed the project, was presented with a gold medal and a cheque for £25,000.

South Block is run by Wasps Studios - a charity that provides affordable studios to artists and arts groups.

In its citation, the judges said that for 20 years the "behemoth city block at King Street" had been "occupied on an ad hoc basis by charities and largely under used".


It added that the structure had been transformed for contemporary arts use.

They said: "Nord has crafted and choreographed the renovation of this existing building with extraordinary rigour.

"With great sensitivity and the slimmest of budgets, the architects have produced a specific environment for creative industries.

"Normally office buildings speak of generic environments. Here, within a tailored set of spaces, interaction and the promise of collaboration is easy to imagine."

South Block was one of a shortlist of 12 other projects.

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop presented the award and said: "The winning scheme is a tremendous and inspiring focus for creativity and innovation and, like previous winners of the award, it is a building of which Scotland can be proud."

(JP/CD)