As one of only two projects in Scotland to win a Civic Trust Award earlier this year, the Wolfson Medical School Building at the University of Glasgow by Reiach and Hall Architects became the only Scots architectural project to make it through to the shortlist for this year's British Construction Industry Awards and the Prime Minister's 'Better Public Buildings Awards' 2004.

Yesterday evening Lord Falconer awarded the Wolfson Medical School Building, out of a record 225 entries, as this year's winner of the British Construction Industry's elite 'Building Award'.

The 'Building Award 2004' presented to Bob Wilson, the University's Director of Estates and Buildings at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, takes the Wolfson Medical School Building to join national and international projects credited at the Gala Awards Dinner.

Bob Wilson said: 'It is gratifying to see the University's positive contribution to the built environment recognised by this award. Further to this it places higher education at the cutting edge of architectural design. A great deal of thought and consultation contributed to this project, which has produced a building that is both intensely practical and a stunning new landmark for the west end of Glasgow.'

In June the judges visited the building and left saying that 'The Wolfson demonstrates superbly how design for the education sector can be beautiful as well as functional. It has been created to allow for new methods of medical teaching, but also to provide a fitting landmark for Glasgow 's West End in the University's 550th anniversary year.'

Following the Wolfson Medical School Building's award announcement the judges went on to add that 'the close knit building team are good friends after a challenging project and key members have all been reappointed for the next phase.' The next phase is a new Cancer Research Facility for the University of Glasgow and Cancer Research UK at the University's Garscube Estate which has just recently gained planning permission.

Now in its 17th year the BCIA awards are an 'industry-wide scheme to recognise excellence in the overall design, construction and delivery of buildings and civil engineering projects.'

The judges added that the Medical School Building is seen as 'An exemplary facility, nicely built and with a delighted client from the estates department to the professors. The building is entirely shaped to match the University's revolutionary teaching method in which students have to solve 'real' medical problems in a closely simulated hospital environment.' The Medical School Building 'makes excellent use of what in Glasgow is called a 'gusset' site - a wedge left at the corner of a diagonal street intersection.' An 'unpretentious, one off, well considered building establishing a distinctive landmark for the Medical School's new centre of excellence.'

Quite simply, the University of Glasgow's Wolfson Medical School Building by Reiach and Hall Architects is merited as 'A model of its kind.'

Media Relations Office (media@gla.ac.uk)

To view the complete portfolio of projects visit the BCIA web-site: BCI Awards Website and the Better Public Building web-site: Better Public Buildings Award.

For more details contact Mike Findlay in the University Press Office on 0141 330-3535, or Joe Roxburgh of Reiach and Hall Architects on 0131 225 8444 or 07740 804783.

First published: 29 October 2004