Limerick Medical School by Grafton Architects, ©Dennis Gilbert 

The shortlist for the 2013 Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stirling Prize, for the best new building, was been announced last week (Thursday 18 July). Six outstanding buildings will now compete for architecture’s most coveted, prestigious accolade.

The shortlist for this year’s RIBA Stirling Prize includes extremely exciting architecture talent, with five of the six practices on the list featuring for the first time, beating-off competition from previous winners. It is also the first year since the prize’s inception 18 years ago that half of the shortlisted firms have women at the helm.

The shortlist for the 2013 RIBA Stirling Prize is as follows:

Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre, Northern Ireland by heneghan peng Architects.

Park Hill Phase 1, Sheffield by Hawkins\Brown with Studio Egret West

Newhall Be, Harlow by Alison Brooks Architects

Astley Castle, Warwickshire by Witherford Watson Mann Architects

University of Limerick Medical School by Grafton Architects

Bishop Edward King Chapel, Oxfordshire by Niall McLaughlin Architects

The shortlist is diverse in terms of the style, size and purposes of the buildings, but all will be judged on their design excellence and their significance to the evolution of architecture and the built environment.

Angela Brady, RIBA President, said: “All six shortlisted projects are ground-breaking in their own way – buildings that deliver more than could ever have been expected. Some of them, such as Park Hill and the Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre, are genuinely courageous in laying out a new visionary approach. This RIBA Stirling Prize shortlist is sending out the clear message that creative vision improves our lives.”

The winner of the RIBA Stirling Prize will be announced on the evening of Thursday 26 September at Central Saint Martins, King’s Cross, designed by last year’s RIBA Stirling Prize winner Stanton Williams.

Other previous winners of the RIBA Stirling Prize include: Sainsbury Laboratory by Stanton Williams (2012); Evelyn Grace Academy (2011) and MAXXI Museum, Rome (2010) both by Zaha Hadid Architects; Maggie’s Centre at Charing Cross Hospital, London by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (2009); Accordia housing development by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios/Alison Brooks Architects/Maccreanor Lavington (2008); The Museum of Modern Literature, Marbach am Neckar, Germany by David Chipperfield Architects (2007).