The Olympic Stadium. Picture: Andy Wilkes

The Olympic Stadium missed out on architecture’s top award, beaten by a building which celebrates botanical research.

The Stadium in Stratford was one of the frontrunners for the 2012 Royal Institute of British Architects’ (RIBA) Stirling Prize, which was announced at the weekend at a ceremony in Manchester.

Stanton Williams’ Sainsbury Laboratory won the award. The building is situated on the northern edge of the University of Cambridge’s Botanic Gardens and celebrates botanical research through interaction, communication and a connection with nature.

The 80,000-capacity Olympic Stadium was designed by Populous and was one of six new buildings to be shortlisted for the Stirling Prize, which is in its 17th year and celebrates the best of new British architecture.

Announcing the shortlist just before the Games started in July, judges described the Olympic Stadium as having “a spirit of fun”.

“They have designed a space to create an amazing atmosphere, where every seat has a great view,” they added.