The accolade was awarded at a prestigious ceremony held by the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS).
Judges said the centre, at Queen's Quay, Clydebank had been "a successful addition to the local masterplan" and highlighted its clever design.
The site, along with the 11 other winners, will now be in the running for the Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award, which will be announced in November.
The shape of the £24million leisure centre, which sits on the site of the former John Brown Shipyards, was designed to look like the prow of a ship as a nod to the town's rich heritage in the industry.
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Councillor Iain McLaren, Convener of Infrastructure, Regeneration & Economic Development, said: "We have always known our new leisure centre was a great facility but to get recognition for its design is brilliant.
"It means even more, given it was inspired by the town's shipbuilding history, something Bankies are fiercely proud of."
Judges from the event described the building as "a clever delivery of a complex brief on a tight site."
He added: "We felt this building was a successful addition to the local masterplan. The external form and materials were confident whilst being restrained."
Stewart Henderson, president of the RIAS, added: "The quality of contemporary Scottish architecture is well worthy of celebration. These awards demonstrate that buildings of all scales and throughout the country are exemplary in their design, execution and in what they deliver for their clients, users and communities."
Other buildings on the list included The Black Shed on the Isle of Skye, Boroughmuir High School in Edinburgh and Barmulloch Residents Centre in Glasgow.
(MH)
