The recovery
of The Glasgow School of Art’s world-famous Mackintosh Building has reached
another notable stage, with the installation of a protective white membrane
“wrap” and completion of a temporary roof structure.
The new works,
which also include a reduction to the extensive scaffolding that was erected in
the wake of the devastating fire of June 2018, represent the next phase in a
programme of recovery work. They follow the complex removal of large-scale
fire-damaged material and debris, a project whose timescale was impacted by the
Covid pandemic and the completion of a thorough investigation by Scottish Fire
and Rescue Service.
“The
completion of the wrapping of the Mackintosh Building is a significant
milestone, as this allows the building to dry out and enables the next stages
of internal works to progress alongside further advance works and planning,”
commented Eleanor Magennis, Director of Estates for The Glasgow School of Art.
Experts
predict the drying-out process will take two years, during which time other
aspects of the rebuilding project can progress. To date this academic year,
work has included the taking down of the Mackintosh Library pillars. Surveys into the viability of the original
steel beams have been completed, identifying those which can be retained as
part of the rebuild.
The next stage
of works includes repairs to the Building’s internal brickwork. Project work
completed last January included the recovery of 23,000 imperial bricks, and the
project team is now sourcing a further 460,000 bricks. Significant amounts of
stonework have also been recovered.
The new wrap
and related elements mean that work can begin shortly on the reinstatement of
green glazing to the neighbouring Reid Building, a project that is expected to
be completed in spring 2024.
“This progress
— including the re-glazing of the Reid — represents visible progress for our students,
and staff, who have recently celebrated a successful and hugely-popular degree
show,” commented Penny Macbeth, Director of The Glasgow School of Art. “It also
underlines a sense of progress to the local community, and all of our
stakeholders in Glasgow and beyond who we thank for their patience and support
in what is a complex reinstatement project.”
Ends
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further information contact:
A bank of free-to-use press images are accessible via the album below:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/glasgowschoolart/albums/72177720309021841
Notes to
Editors:
· 23000 imperial bricks were
salvaged from the Building which will be put back
and a further c.460,000 bricks are being sourced for the remaining brick
repairs. This internal work can happen while the building is drying out.
· Like the brickwork, stone has
been salvaged from the Building but more is needed.
A DNA type analysis of the stonework has been done and the nearest match to the
stone has been identified in a UK quarry.
· The green glass on the
neighbouring Reid Building will be reinstated by spring 2024 with work
commencing shortly.
· Reviews of weathering of sample
finishes / repairs to internal finishes of stonework and plaster on the Mackintosh
Building are ongoing.
· The full-scale sample of a bay
of the Library that was made for the previous
restoration project still exists and the GSA is
investigating where it might be able to be put on public display.
· A hoarding is also in place
near the site providing further information including a link to a dedicated
website (https://themackintoshbuilding.co.uk/)
and image gallery will be regularly kept up to date with ongoing pictures of
progress.
· The GSA continues to work with our teams of professional advisors
to progress towards settling the complex insurance claims associated with the
2018 fire.
Procurement
Process
In
March 2023, following the identification of a technical error in the scoring
matrix used in the procurement process, the procurement process for the
architect-led design team for the Mackintosh Building was closed and no
appointment was made. The procurement process is currently being thoroughly
reviewed prior to a new invitation to tender being announced in due course. The
closure of the tender process will not impact on the project timeline and a
range of workstreams including those detailed above, are continuing to run
concurrently as we work to move the project forward.
Mackintosh Project Governance
The
GSA Board of Governors has overall and final authority for all works on the
Mackintosh Building and this aligns with the primary responsibilities set out
in The Glasgow School of Art’s Statement of Corporate Governance. The Governors will be informed by the
recommendations of the Business and Estates Committee which receives reports
and recommendations from the Project Development Board alongside inputs from
the Mackintosh Steering Group.