LONDON—The Royal Institute of British Architects today named Britain's best new buildings, reigniting a heated debate between traditional and modernist architects, the Guardian reports. The RIBA's list of 92 buildings, including St. Pancras International Station in London and Wembley Stadium, is widely considered a longlist for the £20,000 Stirling Prize, Britain's most prestigious architecture award, and has been noted by many traditional architects as completely overlooking classical work.

The RIBA concedes that its awards tend to represent modernist buildings but insists nonetheless that quality is the only determining factor. Joanna Van Heyningan, an architect and 20-year RIBA judge, said, "There is no prejudice against classical architecture, there is a prejudice against poor architecture. This is a problem for people who have devoted their lives to one style of architecture because it has diverted them from pursuing quality."

Many classical architects protest that they are doing some of the country's most important work. "We are building for rich Russians, but Mr. Average likes traditional architecture too and wants a house with a pitched roof, a door in the middle and windows on each side — in other words, something that looks like a house," said Quinlan Terry, who, despite being one of Prince Charles's favorite architects, has given up entering his buildings in the RIBA contest.