Local buildings shortlisted for prestigious RIBA Awards

The Countess of Wessex at the official opening of Friendship House in June 2004.

All 51 buildings across London will be visited during April by an Awards jury. Those selected for RIBA awards at this stage are then in the running for the Stirling Prize 2005.

Only 70 or so new buildings across the UK are given RIBA awards each year. In 2004, the 19 winners in London included 85 Southwark Street (Allies and Morrison) which went on to win the RIBA London Building of the Year.

The refurbished London College of Communcation (formerly London College of Printing) at the Elephant and Castle is another Allies and Morrison project.

Friendship House in Belvedere Place, off Borough Road, is by MacCormac Jamieson Prichard.

"The London region of the RIBA continues to drive ever higher the standards against which all RIBA Awards are measured," said Tony Chapman, head of awards at the RIBA. "This is yet another record year for entries. 157 in London is up from 121 last year, out of 507 in total – up from 410. So judging will be more rigorous than ever. London won the Stirling Prize last year, for the fourth time in nine years; it will be fielding a strong list of contenders again this year in a tough field. It looks like being an exciting year."

The winners will be announced at the RIBA Awards Dinner to be held at the London Hilton on the evening of 17 June 2005.