The Glasgow School of Art was
approved as long-term tenant for McLellan Galleries at today’s meeting of
Glasgow City Council’s Executive Committee. The GSA was formerly based in the
B-listed building prior to the opening of the Mackintosh Building in the late
19th century.
approved as long-term tenant for McLellan Galleries at today’s meeting of
Glasgow City Council’s Executive Committee. The GSA was formerly based in the
B-listed building prior to the opening of the Mackintosh Building in the late
19th century.
|
| Concept image by Page/Park Architects of how a new central courtyard / exhibition space and a public route through from Sauchiehall Street might be created in McLellan Galleries |
Over recent years Glasgow City Council (GCC) has sought a tenant to take
a long-term lease on the Galleries, repair the building and use it in line with
its historic purposes.
a long-term lease on the Galleries, repair the building and use it in line with
its historic purposes.
The plan, which will integrate the McLellan Galleries into the GSA’s Garnethill
campus, will see the institution make an investment of between £10m and £20m to
return the building to its place at the heart of Glasgow’s creative and
cultural life.
campus, will see the institution make an investment of between £10m and £20m to
return the building to its place at the heart of Glasgow’s creative and
cultural life.
As part of the GSA’s strategic estates development, which is currently
being master-planned by PagePark Architects, the practice created a series of initial
concept ideas for the B-listed building which include a new central courtyard /
exhibition space providing a public route through from Sauchiehall Street to the
GSA’s newly developed precinct between the Mackintosh, Reid and Bourdon Buildings
on Renfrew Street. Such a development would also offer the public a glimpse
into the creative and cultural production of staff and students enabling the
public to engage in the life of the School.
being master-planned by PagePark Architects, the practice created a series of initial
concept ideas for the B-listed building which include a new central courtyard /
exhibition space providing a public route through from Sauchiehall Street to the
GSA’s newly developed precinct between the Mackintosh, Reid and Bourdon Buildings
on Renfrew Street. Such a development would also offer the public a glimpse
into the creative and cultural production of staff and students enabling the
public to engage in the life of the School.
“We are delighted that
Glasgow City Council has approved The Glasgow School of Art as long term-tenant
for McLellan Galleries,” says Professor Tom Inns, Director of The Glasgow School of
Art ‘The GSA occupied McLellan
Galleries for 30 years from 1869 before moving into purpose-designed
accommodation at 167 Renfrew Street – The Mackintosh Building. 100 years later,
our plans and investment in the Galleries will bring them back to life and
secure their long-term future for both the school and the city”
Glasgow City Council has approved The Glasgow School of Art as long term-tenant
for McLellan Galleries,” says Professor Tom Inns, Director of The Glasgow School of
Art ‘The GSA occupied McLellan
Galleries for 30 years from 1869 before moving into purpose-designed
accommodation at 167 Renfrew Street – The Mackintosh Building. 100 years later,
our plans and investment in the Galleries will bring them back to life and
secure their long-term future for both the school and the city”
Councillor Gordon Matheson, Leader of Glasgow City
Council, said: “The McLellan Galleries
has enjoyed a great past, and now we can look forward to a fantastic future for
this wonderful building. The Glasgow School of Art presented an extremely
strong case for the long-term lease, and seem a perfect fit for the Galleries.
This is not just great news for the development of the McLellan Galleries
and the growth of the School of Art, but also for this part of the city
centre.”
Council, said: “The McLellan Galleries
has enjoyed a great past, and now we can look forward to a fantastic future for
this wonderful building. The Glasgow School of Art presented an extremely
strong case for the long-term lease, and seem a perfect fit for the Galleries.
This is not just great news for the development of the McLellan Galleries
and the growth of the School of Art, but also for this part of the city
centre.”
The GSA will now move forward with plans to appoint an architects
practice to lead the redevelopment and will establish a timetable for the
development of the Galleries which will be agreed with GCC.
practice to lead the redevelopment and will establish a timetable for the
development of the Galleries which will be agreed with GCC.
The proposed date of entry and commencement of the 95-year lease would be
from September 2015. The GSA is currently occupying the Galleries and
will continue to do so until the date of entry on a temporary licence.
from September 2015. The GSA is currently occupying the Galleries and
will continue to do so until the date of entry on a temporary licence.
Ends 11
December 2014
December 2014
Further information on the
GSA plans:
GSA plans:
Lesley Booth,
0779 941 4474
Notes for
Editors
Editors
Appointment of long-term
tenant for McLellan Galleries
tenant for McLellan Galleries
Following a feasibility study which established a significant market
demand the council’s property advisers, Ryden, invited interested parties to
submit a business case. Ultimately, The Glasgow School of Art was the
only organisation to submit a business case as other organisations, who had
suggested they may bid, subsequently did not do so as it was indicated they did
not appreciate the complexity of the building nor the associated need for
substantial capital investment.
demand the council’s property advisers, Ryden, invited interested parties to
submit a business case. Ultimately, The Glasgow School of Art was the
only organisation to submit a business case as other organisations, who had
suggested they may bid, subsequently did not do so as it was indicated they did
not appreciate the complexity of the building nor the associated need for
substantial capital investment.
Towards a future for
McLellan Galleries
McLellan Galleries
- Page/Park
Architects developed a case study as to how the McLellan Galleries might be usefully
brought back to life within the context of the campus masterplan which the
practice is currently developing for the GSA. - McLellan Galleries are held in great affection by many in the
city. The marble stairs surmounted by splendid top lit gallery spaces are a
surprise hidden behind the elegant Palazzo Style architecture of the
Sauchiehall Street frontage. - For over a century and a half the Galleries have been
transformed from its single storey origins, to an art school then to its
current municipal use – a history of creative and cultural engagement which
will continue with its re-embrace as part of The Glasgow School of Art. - The Galleries have always been a discovery, and that perhaps
has been its problem in terms of a wider public perception of accessibility.
Compare the McLellan to Princes Square, an elegant top lit space in a similar
Palazzo building in Buchanan Street. - The McLellan as it currently stands is like a trapped iceberg
inside the city block. Underneath the lovely galleries is a warren of
subterranean lightless spaces that take up a huge area and struggle to find
effective uses. - PagePark’s conceptual proposal is two-fold and imaginative –
to remove the central gallery down to ground level to create a new central
covered courtyard around which the ground floor rooms, mezzanine floor and
upper level galleries wrap, bringing light in to the heart of the building at
all levels and a roof-top extension to the north providing additional space with
a new façade on to Renfrew Street providing access to all floors, views of the
Mackintosh and Reid Buildings and a new entrance on to Renfrew Street. - The Sauchiehall Street entrance will become a new front door
for the School of Art with access into the courtyard and a new route up to
Renfrew Street and to the Mackintosh, Reid and Bourdon Buildings and the public
exhibition galleries in the Reid and Mackintosh, the Window on Mackintosh
Visitors Centre and tours of the Reid and once restoration is completed the
Mackintosh Building. - The new McLellan Courtyard with cafe and exhibition spaces give
the public an insight in to the creative production at heart of the School - The Project will allow the GSA to directly engage with one of
the city’s busiest streets and the School will engage actively with the City
Council’s Sauchiehall District proposals of which the GSA’s campus master plan
and McLellan development will be key projects.
Further information on Glasgow City Council
Paul Kane
0141 287 5387 / 07766 802811
paul.kane@glasgow.gov.uk