Annual Review 2025

This year we have been celebrating the 20th anniversary of Architecture and Design Scotland, with a reflective campaign looking back at all that has been achieved since 2005. 

We have continued in 2025 to deliver a wide range of projects, supporting major investments within the public sector, publishing helpful resources, and continuing to provide guidance on climate smart projects. AI and its impact on our cities became an increased focus in our work, as well as contributing to international visits and events, and celebrating Scotland’s future architects. 

After a strategic review in 2024, we have been preparing to reshape ourselves as a sector development body, refocusing our remit to lead sector-wide excellence through collaboration, insight and innovation.

Found out more about what we've been doing in 2025 by clicking on the links below or downloading the PDF document.

• Reflections from our Chief Executive
• Celebrating 20 years of Architecture and Design Scotland
• Some highlights from 2025
• A new direction

As we turned twenty in 2025, we ran a social media campaign looking back at some of our highlights and achievements. Over twenty posts we shared resources, memories and images from our work over the past twenty years. 

From our founding in 2005, we have engaged in a wide variety of topics, including sustainability and climate, revitalising town centres, housing design and offsite construction. We have celebrated the talents of Scottish architects and designers, supported investment in our public realm through our health and learning estates, as well as national infrastructure projects. We have engaged with the public through a series of exhibitions, worked with communities to build capacity to take local decisions, and continued throughout to put users at the heart of design.

You can look back at some of our highlights by visiting our social media platforms, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.

In 2025, we continued to support, promote and celebrate our architecture sector. Our work this year includes;

• Promoting and celebrating emerging talent in Scotland’s architecture sector, with the A&DS and RIAS Scottish Student Awards for Architecture
• Launching two new resources to support the design of Scotland's learning estate. These focused on accessible and inclusive design and design elements for school grounds
• Publishing a report on Learning Locally, a 2024 pilot project which shares approaches to co-designing sustainable learning settings, working with schools and communities in West Lothian
• Exploring how artificial intelligence is re-shaping urban life, with a seminar AI in the City which brought together experts, policymakers and community voices
• Mentoring university students in the Data Lab Innovation Challenge, a dynamic three-day event bringing together MSc data students, design experts, and civic leaders to tackle real world challenges
• Co-delivering four Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP) thematic webinars with Scottish Futures Trust (SFT), focusing on energy reporting and monitoring, Additional Support for Learning (ASL), and lessons learnt from recently delivered LEIP projects

Explore more highlights by downloading the report

The findings of the 2024 strategic review set out a new chapter for Architecture and Design Scotland, refocusing our remit to lead sector-wide excellence through collaboration, insight and innovation.

This reshaped focus will enable us to promote the value of good design in addressing the challenges facing Scotland’s places today, including climate change, housing, health, learning, and digital transformation. It will also support the architectural sector to continue contributing to sustainable economic growth.

The publication of these recommendations marks the start of a new chapter for Architecture and Design Scotland. The recommendations provide an opportunity to refine our purpose, strengthen and expand our position within the sector, and ensure we are providing expertise, leadership and support where it is most needed. Our programme of activities that reflect this new direction will be rolled out throughout 2026 to allow us to continue to champion design as a powerful force to deliver a sustainable, inclusive and thriving Scotland.