Architectural Awards

The RIBA has a comprehensive awards scheme that sees those artichects who have performed and created some fantastic work honoured with the Stirling Prize for excellence in building design. It is thought to be the most prestigious award in the British sector of architectural businesses. The award trophy itself was designed by Morag Myerscough.

The RIBA Stirling Prize is given for the RIBA Building of the Year. It is run in association with an Architectural Journal and is presented to the architectural professional of the building which has been the most significant for the evolution of architecture in the past year. The winner receives a cash prize of £20,000. The prize is named after the great British architectural genius Sir James Stirling (1926-1992).

The shortlisted buildings, chosen from winners of the RIBA National Awards, are visited in September by the RIBA Stirling Prize jury, who reconvene on the afternoon of the RIBA Stirling Prize Dinner to make their final decision.

Barajas Airport in Madrid, designed by Richard Rogers Partnership, won the 11th RIBA Stirling Prize in association with an Architectural Journal in 2006. The presentation took place at a glittering awards ceremony on Saturday 14 October at the Roundhouse, London and was televised live on Channel 4.

RIBA Stirling Prize 2005 winner: The Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament beat off competition from five other shortlisted buildings, selected from this year's RIBA Award winning buildings:

• BMW Central Building, Leipzig, Germany - Zaha Hadid Architecture
• Lewis Glucksman Gallery, University College, Cork, Ireland – O'Donnell + Tuomey
• The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh - EMBT / RMJM Ltd
• McLaren Technology Centre, Woking, Surrey - Foster and Partners
• Jubilee Library, Brighton, Sussex - Bennetts Associates with Lomax Cassidy + Edwards
• Fawood Children's Centre, Harlesden, NW10 - Alsop Design Ltd

RIBA Stirling Prize 2004 winner: 30 St Mary Axe

30 St Mary Axe, commonly referred to as the "Gherkin", designed by Foster and Partners, has won this year's RIBA Stirling Prize in association with an Architectural Journal. The presentation of the UK's premier architectural award took place at a glittering award ceremony at the Old Billingsgate Market, London and was televised live on Channel 4 at 8pm, Saturday 16 October. For the first time, the judges reached a unanimous decision.

30 St Mary Axe beat off competition from a shortlist of five other buildings:

• Kunsthaus, Graz - Peter Cook, Colin Fournier
• The Spire, Dublin - Ian Ritchie Architecture
• Imperial War Museum North, Manchester - Studio Daniel Libeskind
• Phoenix Initiative, Coventry - MacCormac Jamieson Prichard
• Business Academy Bexley - Foster and Partners