Students past and present gather for
opening of The Glasgow School of Art’s new Reid Building
opening of The Glasgow School of Art’s new Reid Building
Over
2,000 students, staff and friends of the GSA gathered for the opening of the
new Reid Building today, 9 April 2014. The building, which houses the GSA’s
School of Design, a refectory, an auditorium, workshops, a case room,
administrative and directorate offices, a gallery and the GSA’s new visitor
centre: The Window on Mackintosh, was officially opened by a GSA alumnus – star
of stage and screen, Robbie Coltrane;
a current student, Alejandro Moreno,
who is studying at the Mackintosh School of Architecture; and a “future
student” Antonia Graham, a P7 pupil
from the local Garnetbank Primary School. Together they represent the
continuity of creative talent which is at the heart of the world famous
institution.
2,000 students, staff and friends of the GSA gathered for the opening of the
new Reid Building today, 9 April 2014. The building, which houses the GSA’s
School of Design, a refectory, an auditorium, workshops, a case room,
administrative and directorate offices, a gallery and the GSA’s new visitor
centre: The Window on Mackintosh, was officially opened by a GSA alumnus – star
of stage and screen, Robbie Coltrane;
a current student, Alejandro Moreno,
who is studying at the Mackintosh School of Architecture; and a “future
student” Antonia Graham, a P7 pupil
from the local Garnetbank Primary School. Together they represent the
continuity of creative talent which is at the heart of the world famous
institution.
“As a student I was fortunate enough
to study in the most beautiful building in the world,” says Coltrane who studied painting
at the GSA and whose studio was in the Mackintosh Building. “It’s wonderful that current and future
students now have this amazing new space in which to make work.”
to study in the most beautiful building in the world,” says Coltrane who studied painting
at the GSA and whose studio was in the Mackintosh Building. “It’s wonderful that current and future
students now have this amazing new space in which to make work.”
The
celebration began with a specially created Rube
Goldberg machine animating the building.
A “mouse-trap” device of causes and effects, it was built and operated
by students, tutors and cleaners. The “machine” included helium filled
balloons, unfurling banners, two mice, an ascent up a driven void, a GSA
library book “domino rally” and more. This was followed by the World Première of Making it New, a work
commissioned by the GSA Choir from composer Ken Johnston and Scots Makar, Liz
Lochhead, who studied painting at the GSA alongside Coltrane.
celebration began with a specially created Rube
Goldberg machine animating the building.
A “mouse-trap” device of causes and effects, it was built and operated
by students, tutors and cleaners. The “machine” included helium filled
balloons, unfurling banners, two mice, an ascent up a driven void, a GSA
library book “domino rally” and more. This was followed by the World Première of Making it New, a work
commissioned by the GSA Choir from composer Ken Johnston and Scots Makar, Liz
Lochhead, who studied painting at the GSA alongside Coltrane.
“The GSA Choir wanted to do something
special to mark this important occasion,” says choirmaster Jamie Sansbury, a 4th
year student at the Mackintosh School of Architecture. “We were delighted when Ken and Liz agreed to write this new work for
us which celebrates both the new building and the creativity of GSA students.” Joining
the staff, students and friends at the opening was Cabinet Secretary for Culture
and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop. Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External
Affairs, Fiona Hyslop, said:
special to mark this important occasion,” says choirmaster Jamie Sansbury, a 4th
year student at the Mackintosh School of Architecture. “We were delighted when Ken and Liz agreed to write this new work for
us which celebrates both the new building and the creativity of GSA students.” Joining
the staff, students and friends at the opening was Cabinet Secretary for Culture
and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop. Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External
Affairs, Fiona Hyslop, said:
“This magnificent new building at The
Glasgow School of Art, part of the project made possible by £50m from the
Scottish Funding Council, will offer an excellent learning environment for
hundreds of students. It represents a significant investment in the future of
higher education.
Glasgow School of Art, part of the project made possible by £50m from the
Scottish Funding Council, will offer an excellent learning environment for
hundreds of students. It represents a significant investment in the future of
higher education.
“Steven Holl and JM Architects have
crafted a building that is a true work of art in its own right. Facing Charles
Rennie Mackintosh’s masterpiece The Glasgow School of Art, it is a bold
response to one of Scotland’s most architecturally important buildings.
crafted a building that is a true work of art in its own right. Facing Charles
Rennie Mackintosh’s masterpiece The Glasgow School of Art, it is a bold
response to one of Scotland’s most architecturally important buildings.
“Through the careful use of light,
the building combines a striking sculptural form with the ideal lighting and
working conditions required for first-class artist studios. I look forward to
seeing the works students create in such an inspiring environment.”
the building combines a striking sculptural form with the ideal lighting and
working conditions required for first-class artist studios. I look forward to
seeing the works students create in such an inspiring environment.”
Laurence
Howells, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said; “Six years’ ago we were excited about the
vision for this building and decided to invest the £50 million to make it
happen. Bright, inspiring buildings are really important for the student
experience and particularly so for creative students. This fantastic building
will nurture the talent of Scotland’s artists for generations to come.”
Howells, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said; “Six years’ ago we were excited about the
vision for this building and decided to invest the £50 million to make it
happen. Bright, inspiring buildings are really important for the student
experience and particularly so for creative students. This fantastic building
will nurture the talent of Scotland’s artists for generations to come.”
“Today is a great celebration,” adds Professor Tom Inns, Director of
The Glasgow School of Art. “It is an
opportunity to mark the opening of this new building which will enable the GSA
to offer the highest quality studio-based teaching and learning to generations
of students, and also to recognise all the work that has gone into creating it.
I would particularly like to thank the Scottish Funding Council for their
support in making it possible for us to take the Reid Building from aspiration
to reality.”
The Glasgow School of Art. “It is an
opportunity to mark the opening of this new building which will enable the GSA
to offer the highest quality studio-based teaching and learning to generations
of students, and also to recognise all the work that has gone into creating it.
I would particularly like to thank the Scottish Funding Council for their
support in making it possible for us to take the Reid Building from aspiration
to reality.”
The
Reid Building is named after Dame Seona Reid CBE, the first female Director of
The Glasgow School of Art, who stepped down after 13 years in summer 2013.
Reid Building is named after Dame Seona Reid CBE, the first female Director of
The Glasgow School of Art, who stepped down after 13 years in summer 2013.
“It is wonderful to be here today to
see phase 1 of the GSA campus development come to fruition,” says Seona Reid. “It is, without doubt, a major
challenge for any architect not only to build opposite the ingenious Mackintosh
Building, but also to create spaces which respond to the spirit of an art
school and truly inspire its staff and students. Steven
Holl architects with JM architects and ARUP have more than met that challenge
and I am very proud of what they and the school have achieved in this building.”
see phase 1 of the GSA campus development come to fruition,” says Seona Reid. “It is, without doubt, a major
challenge for any architect not only to build opposite the ingenious Mackintosh
Building, but also to create spaces which respond to the spirit of an art
school and truly inspire its staff and students. Steven
Holl architects with JM architects and ARUP have more than met that challenge
and I am very proud of what they and the school have achieved in this building.”
The
Reid Building includes studios and facilities for students following programmes
in Communication Design, Fashion Design, Interior Design, Product Design,
Product Design Engineering, Silversmithing & Jewellery and Textile Design. In
the entrance to the building is A
Thousand Future Skies, a signature artwork by a GSA alumnus, the Turner
Prize winning artist, Martin Boyce.
Reid Building includes studios and facilities for students following programmes
in Communication Design, Fashion Design, Interior Design, Product Design,
Product Design Engineering, Silversmithing & Jewellery and Textile Design. In
the entrance to the building is A
Thousand Future Skies, a signature artwork by a GSA alumnus, the Turner
Prize winning artist, Martin Boyce.
Making it New was commissioned with support from
Creative Scotland’s Lottery funding, and manufacture of A Thousand Future Skies was made possible with a Production and
Presentation grant from Creative Scotland.
Creative Scotland’s Lottery funding, and manufacture of A Thousand Future Skies was made possible with a Production and
Presentation grant from Creative Scotland.
Ends
Notes for Editors
Phase 1 of the GSA campus development
·
In
the mid 2000s an Estates Review established that, with the exception of the
Mackintosh Building, the GSA’s Garnethill campus of some nine separate
buildings was no longer fit for purpose. A plan was developed with the aim of
creating a more focused campus of facilities and to provide the GSA with world-class
spaces. Phase 1 of the GSA’s campus development addressed the urgent need to
replace the Newbery Tower and Foulis Building.
In
the mid 2000s an Estates Review established that, with the exception of the
Mackintosh Building, the GSA’s Garnethill campus of some nine separate
buildings was no longer fit for purpose. A plan was developed with the aim of
creating a more focused campus of facilities and to provide the GSA with world-class
spaces. Phase 1 of the GSA’s campus development addressed the urgent need to
replace the Newbery Tower and Foulis Building.
·
The
budget for the Phase 1 of the GSA campus development project was £50m and it
has come in on budget.
The
budget for the Phase 1 of the GSA campus development project was £50m and it
has come in on budget.
·
The
project was made possible by a grant from the Scottish Funding Council www.sfc.ac.uk
The
project was made possible by a grant from the Scottish Funding Council www.sfc.ac.uk
·
The
Reid Building was designed by Steven Holl Architects (New York), www.stevenholl.com, JM Architects
(Glasgow), www.jmarchitects.net and
ARUP, who won an international competition in 2009.
The
Reid Building was designed by Steven Holl Architects (New York), www.stevenholl.com, JM Architects
(Glasgow), www.jmarchitects.net and
ARUP, who won an international competition in 2009.
·
Work
began with the demolition of the Newbery Tower and Foulis Building in summer
2011. The students moved into the Reid Building in January 2014.
Work
began with the demolition of the Newbery Tower and Foulis Building in summer
2011. The students moved into the Reid Building in January 2014.
Facing up to Mackintosh, a BBC documentary by GSA alumna, Louise
Lockwood, charting the development of the Reid Building, will be premiered at
the BBC Arts Documentary Festival, Art Screen 2014, on 13 April
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ebdwrz), and screened on BBC2 Scotland on 29 April.
Lockwood, charting the development of the Reid Building, will be premiered at
the BBC Arts Documentary Festival, Art Screen 2014, on 13 April
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ebdwrz), and screened on BBC2 Scotland on 29 April.
The
Glasgow School of Art
Glasgow School of Art
The GSA is internationally recognised as one of Europe’s leading
university-level institutions for the visual creative disciplines. Our
studio-based approach to research and teaching brings disciplines together to
explore problems in new ways and to find new innovative solutions. The
studio creates the environment for inter-disciplinarity, peer learning,
critical enquiry, experimentation and prototyping, helping to addressing many
of the grand challenges confronting society and contemporary business. For further information on The
Glasgow School of Art visit www.gsa.ac.uk
university-level institutions for the visual creative disciplines. Our
studio-based approach to research and teaching brings disciplines together to
explore problems in new ways and to find new innovative solutions. The
studio creates the environment for inter-disciplinarity, peer learning,
critical enquiry, experimentation and prototyping, helping to addressing many
of the grand challenges confronting society and contemporary business. For further information on The
Glasgow School of Art visit www.gsa.ac.uk