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The £188 million Library of Birmingham's reputation as a landmark building has been strengthened after it won a national architectural award.

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) named the library as one of 44 º£½ÇÊÓƵ winners in its national awards and it will now be considered for the prestigious Stirling Prize later in the year.

This latest accolade follows on from the RIBA West Midlands Awards in April when on offer and the West Midlands project of the year title bestowed upon it .

The success for Birmingham did not stop there though as Waverley School, in Bordesley Green, was also named a national winner by RIBA.

A total of 56 buildings, including 12 from the EU, will now be considered for the Stirling Prize whose previous recipients include the Scottish Parliament building in Edinburgh, Terminal 4 at Barajas Airport in Madrid and the Gateshead Millennium Bridge.

RIBA president Stephen Hodder said: "This year's RIBA National Award winners show that exceptional architecture can be found anywhere: on any high street, in any village or town and with any budget.

"Good architecture always begins with a committed client and it is extremely heartening to see in this year's crop of winners the increasing recognition, notably in the public sector, of the vital role of good design in attracting visitors, students and clients and of the dramatic influence that a beautiful building has on communities and pride.

"These buildings show the challenges that can be overcome with pure architectural creativity.