Architecture and Design Scotland (A&DS), the Scottish Government's architecture and design agency, gathered industry leaders at the Edinburgh Futures Institute on Tuesday to launch its Business Plan for 2026/27, confirm two strategic collaborations and share an early look at A&DS SpACE, a temporary exhibition and events venue to showcase Scotland's architecture sector.

The plan underscores the expanding role of design in tackling national priorities including the climate transition, housing delivery, economic renewal and citizens' wellbeing.

A&DS said its programme will strengthen the sector's capacity and influence through development support, deeper strategic partnerships and practical demonstrations of design's value.

Jim MacDonald, Chief Executive of Architecture and Design Scotland, said: "In our Business Plan for 2026/27 we set out an important step forward for our organisation and the sector. We are honing our focus to better support the people and organisations who design and shape Scotland's buildings and places.

"Design has a critical role to play in meeting the challenges we face, and we are committed to helping unlock its full potential."

Two new partnerships were unveiled at the event to drive collaboration and impact across the built environment.

One agreement between A&DS and BE-ST, Scotland's national innovation centre for construction and the built environment, will align design and innovation efforts and support a just transition to net zero.

Stephen Good, CEO of Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST), said: "We are excited to welcome this new partnership between BE-ST and A&DS. There is clear alignment between our two organisations and a shared focus on driving policy for the built environment, which delivers better place outcomes, higher quality, climate resilient architecture and design, and more opportunities for all related sectors and supply chains.

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"BE-ST and A&DS are dedicated to accelerating the built environment's just transition to net zero. We're looking forward to working together to identify new ways of delivering place-based, housing-led regeneration that maximises the potential for bio-based materials and modern methods of construction (MMC), like Scotland's world-class timber offsite manufacturing capability, to support the architecture and built environment sectors to thrive and create the neighbourhoods and infrastructure Scotland's communities deserve."

A second partnership will see A&DS, the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) and V&A Dundee collaborate to celebrate and support Scottish architecture and the wider design sector.

Announcing the partnership, Leonie Bell, Director of V&A Dundee, said: "As V&A Dundee, Scotland's design museum, we are looking forward to working with our partners Architecture and Design Scotland and RIAS to celebrate Scotland's architects and architecture. Good architecture and design underpins our lives every day, creating spaces and places that help us, give us hope and makes us happy. Through this partnership, we will champion the role of architecture in Scotland as something to be supported, developed and celebrated at home in Scotland and around the world."

Speaking about the partnership, Tamsie Thomson, Chief Executive of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS), said: "We are excited to be working with Architecture and Design Scotland and V&A Dundee, as this new partnership presents an invaluable opportunity to combine our efforts, to amplify the importance of good architecture for Scotland, and strengthen its visibility.

"From the places that we love and care about, to the spaces that we rely on, good architecture matters because it shapes everyday life. It inspires us, while supporting how we choose to live, work and play. With that comes the responsibility of taking architecture and its impact on people seriously. Through this collaboration, we want to support and champion the people and practices that make up and represent our sector, in celebration of all that Scottish architecture has to offer. Together, we will be able to make sure that this continues to grow in Scotland and beyond."

The 2026/27 plan identifies three core priorities for A&DS:

- Accelerate growth, build capacity and create opportunity across Scotland's architecture and design sector

- Unlock better housing outcomes through design-led innovation

- Embed user-centred and design-led approaches in major public sector capital investment projects, including health and learning estates

A&DS also screened a short film by Lateral North capturing the challenges and opportunities facing architects in Scotland, featuring the voices of three practitioners. The video is available here: vimeo.com/1197706945?fl=pl&fe=sh

With the plan now launched, A&DS will roll out a series of initiatives over the coming months in partnership with sector bodies to deliver sustained, long-term impact.