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| Image: the historic Massachusetts Cotton Mills complex (now converted into apartments). Yellow Pine beams salvaged during its conversion are now being used to restore the Mackintosh Building |
A former
Cotton Mill in Lowell, Massachusetts has come to the aid of one of the world’s
most iconic buildings it was revealed today, 3 August 2017. The celebrated
Mackintosh Building at The Glasgow School of Art (affectionately known as “the
Mack”) suffered a major fire three years ago, and whilst the majority of the
building was saved the famous library and Japanese-inspired Studio 58 above it were
lost.
Cotton Mill in Lowell, Massachusetts has come to the aid of one of the world’s
most iconic buildings it was revealed today, 3 August 2017. The celebrated
Mackintosh Building at The Glasgow School of Art (affectionately known as “the
Mack”) suffered a major fire three years ago, and whilst the majority of the
building was saved the famous library and Japanese-inspired Studio 58 above it were
lost.
In 2016 a
section of The Picker Building, one of the last structures built as part of the
historic Massachusetts Cotton Mills complex, was being demolished (as part of
the programme to convert the building into affordable residential apartments).
High-quality southern yellow pine timber was carefully reclaimed from the
building by Cambridge MA based Longleaf Lumber. Meanwhile, in Glasgow the
Mackintosh Building restoration team was searching for just such high quality
timber to replace the upright columns in the famous Japanese-inspired Studio
58.
section of The Picker Building, one of the last structures built as part of the
historic Massachusetts Cotton Mills complex, was being demolished (as part of
the programme to convert the building into affordable residential apartments).
High-quality southern yellow pine timber was carefully reclaimed from the
building by Cambridge MA based Longleaf Lumber. Meanwhile, in Glasgow the
Mackintosh Building restoration team was searching for just such high quality
timber to replace the upright columns in the famous Japanese-inspired Studio
58.
The historic Picker
Building, one of the last structures built as part of the historic
Building, one of the last structures built as part of the historic
Massachusetts Cotton
Mills complex, under part demolition in 2016
Mills complex, under part demolition in 2016
“Studio 58 is one of the very special spaces in the
Mackintosh Building,” says Liz
Davidson, Senior Project Manager for the Mackintosh Restoration. ”We know that Mackintosh was heavily
influenced by Japanese design and in Studio 58 this was seen particularly
clearly,”
Mackintosh Building,” says Liz
Davidson, Senior Project Manager for the Mackintosh Restoration. ”We know that Mackintosh was heavily
influenced by Japanese design and in Studio 58 this was seen particularly
clearly,”
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| Image: Studio 58 of the Mackintosh Building showing how the fire affected the American yellow pine uprights |
“The original wooden uprights had been made out of
American yellow pine which we knew had come from Massachusetts. So when our
contractor, Kier Construction, began the search for replacement timber they immediately
looked into possible sources in the area where the original timber had come
from at the turn of the 20th century.”
American yellow pine which we knew had come from Massachusetts. So when our
contractor, Kier Construction, began the search for replacement timber they immediately
looked into possible sources in the area where the original timber had come
from at the turn of the 20th century.”
“We were delighted to discover that not only did Long
Leaflumber have the quality yellow pine in the size that we needed, but that
the wood had come from a building which had been constructed at the same time
as the Mack,” she adds.
Leaflumber have the quality yellow pine in the size that we needed, but that
the wood had come from a building which had been constructed at the same time
as the Mack,” she adds.
“Longleaf Lumber are truly
excited and humbled to be part of such a tremendous restoration project,” a
spokesperson said. “It is fitting that
these beams, cut from the grand longleaf pine forests and originally milled for
a factory in the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution, have been
reclaimed and repurposed in a restoration effort that pays homage to an
architectural master who was influenced both by nature and the industrial
changes of his time.”
excited and humbled to be part of such a tremendous restoration project,” a
spokesperson said. “It is fitting that
these beams, cut from the grand longleaf pine forests and originally milled for
a factory in the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution, have been
reclaimed and repurposed in a restoration effort that pays homage to an
architectural master who was influenced both by nature and the industrial
changes of his time.”
Eight
13-1/2 inch x 15-1/2 inch x 23 foot beams were loaded into a
shipping container in late 2016 for the trip across the Atlantic and arrived in
Scotland at the beginning of this year. After testing and shaping the wood was
ready for the final part of its journey from Cotton Mill to Artists studio.
13-1/2 inch x 15-1/2 inch x 23 foot beams were loaded into a
shipping container in late 2016 for the trip across the Atlantic and arrived in
Scotland at the beginning of this year. After testing and shaping the wood was
ready for the final part of its journey from Cotton Mill to Artists studio.
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| Salvaged yellow pine from Lowell Cotton Mills being shaped in the workshop in Scotland |
Four massive
replacement uprights were finally craned into the Mackintosh Building and manoeuvred
into place in a delicate and complex operation. This landmark day cemented the
relationship between Glasgow and Massachusetts which had begun over a century
ago at the time when both the Picker Building and the Mackintosh Building were
constructed.
replacement uprights were finally craned into the Mackintosh Building and manoeuvred
into place in a delicate and complex operation. This landmark day cemented the
relationship between Glasgow and Massachusetts which had begun over a century
ago at the time when both the Picker Building and the Mackintosh Building were
constructed.
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| One of the four massive yellow pine uprights is craned up to the roof of the Mackintosh Building |
The upright is slowly lowered through the temporary roof
The massive yellow
pine upright is guided into place by walkie talkie communication with the crane
driver, careful measurement taken to ensure it is in exactly the right place
and precisely placed in studio 58
pine upright is guided into place by walkie talkie communication with the crane
driver, careful measurement taken to ensure it is in exactly the right place
and precisely placed in studio 58
The restoration of
the fire damaged west wing of the Mackintosh Building and simultaneous
upgrading of the east wing are part of a major £80m development of the GSA’s
Garnethill campus. It also includes the purchase and conversion of the former
Stow College building and site. The project will see the Mackintosh Building
returning as a home for all first year students, and the Stow Building will
bring together all the different specialisms of the School of Fine Art in one
building. The project is being supported by the $42M (£32M) Mackintosh Campus
Appeal, $23M (£18M) of which has been raised to date. Further details: http://www.gsa.ac.uk/support-gsa/mackintosh-campus-appeal/
the fire damaged west wing of the Mackintosh Building and simultaneous
upgrading of the east wing are part of a major £80m development of the GSA’s
Garnethill campus. It also includes the purchase and conversion of the former
Stow College building and site. The project will see the Mackintosh Building
returning as a home for all first year students, and the Stow Building will
bring together all the different specialisms of the School of Fine Art in one
building. The project is being supported by the $42M (£32M) Mackintosh Campus
Appeal, $23M (£18M) of which has been raised to date. Further details: http://www.gsa.ac.uk/support-gsa/mackintosh-campus-appeal/
Ends
Further press information, interviews and high resolution
images of the Mackintosh Building contact
images of the Mackintosh Building contact
Lesley Booth, +44 779 941 4474 / press @gsa.ac.uk
Further information on Long Leaf Lumber contact:
Kathy Woodward 617.871.6611
/ kathy@longleaflumber.com
/ kathy@longleaflumber.com
Notes for Editors
Connections between Massachusetts Cotton Mills and
Scotland
Scotland
Research has
revealed a connection between Scotland and the Massachusetts Cotton Mills.
Founder of the Mills, Francis Cabot Lowell, left on a two-year visit with his family
to Scotland and
England in June 1810 and it was here that he developed an interest in textiles,
especially the spinning and weaving machines, (which were operated by water
power or steam power), which he would later put at the heart of his Cotton
Mills in Massachusetts.
revealed a connection between Scotland and the Massachusetts Cotton Mills.
Founder of the Mills, Francis Cabot Lowell, left on a two-year visit with his family
to Scotland and
England in June 1810 and it was here that he developed an interest in textiles,
especially the spinning and weaving machines, (which were operated by water
power or steam power), which he would later put at the heart of his Cotton
Mills in Massachusetts.
The
Mackintosh Building at The Glasgow School of Art
Mackintosh Building at The Glasgow School of Art
While the building of The Glasgow School
of Art is rightly associated with the innovative work of Charles Rennie
Mackintosh during the late 1890s, early 1900s, the origins of the School
predate this by some 50 years.
of Art is rightly associated with the innovative work of Charles Rennie
Mackintosh during the late 1890s, early 1900s, the origins of the School
predate this by some 50 years.
The School was originally founded in
January 1845 as Glasgow’s Government School of Design. Forty years later in
1885 Francis Newbery became headmaster and under his energetic direction the
Glasgow School of Art and Haldane Academy (as it was then known) expanded so
considerably that a new larger building was required.
January 1845 as Glasgow’s Government School of Design. Forty years later in
1885 Francis Newbery became headmaster and under his energetic direction the
Glasgow School of Art and Haldane Academy (as it was then known) expanded so
considerably that a new larger building was required.
In 1896 an architectural competition
took place for the building of a new Glasgow School of Art on a site offered to
the School’s directors by the Bellahouston trustees. Working to a budget of
just £14,000, the Glasgow firm of Honeyman and Keppie submitted a design from
the hand of one of their junior draughtsmen, Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
Sympathetic to Mackintosh’s intentions, the design was praised by Newbery and
after being independently assessed by the educational authorities in London,
was finally accepted.
took place for the building of a new Glasgow School of Art on a site offered to
the School’s directors by the Bellahouston trustees. Working to a budget of
just £14,000, the Glasgow firm of Honeyman and Keppie submitted a design from
the hand of one of their junior draughtsmen, Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
Sympathetic to Mackintosh’s intentions, the design was praised by Newbery and
after being independently assessed by the educational authorities in London,
was finally accepted.
It was clear, however, that the funds
available were insufficient to complete the building as both Newbery and
more importantly as Mackintosh had intended it. Somewhat reluctantly it was
decided that work should proceed on the central and eastern half of the
building only and that construction of the west wing would be entirely
dependent on securing additional funds. Building work commenced in 1897 and by
December 1899 the first phase of the School had been completed including the
Museum, the Director’s Room and Board Room.
available were insufficient to complete the building as both Newbery and
more importantly as Mackintosh had intended it. Somewhat reluctantly it was
decided that work should proceed on the central and eastern half of the
building only and that construction of the west wing would be entirely
dependent on securing additional funds. Building work commenced in 1897 and by
December 1899 the first phase of the School had been completed including the
Museum, the Director’s Room and Board Room.
It took Newbery and School’s Board of
Governors a further eight years to secure the financial means to complete
Mackintosh’s scheme. In the meantime, Mackintosh was invited back by the School
to rework his original drawings and a series of alterations and extensions were
made including the provision of a new second floor of studios and additional
workshops accommodated into a sub-basement floor.
Governors a further eight years to secure the financial means to complete
Mackintosh’s scheme. In the meantime, Mackintosh was invited back by the School
to rework his original drawings and a series of alterations and extensions were
made including the provision of a new second floor of studios and additional
workshops accommodated into a sub-basement floor.
Work started on the second half of the
building in 1907 and by December 1909 it had been completed. In total contrast
to the earlier austere facades to the south and east, the west wing with its
dramatic design and dominating windows heralded the birth of a new style in
20th century European architecture. Internally the most dramatic of interiors
was reserved for the Library with its decorated balcony and central cluster of
electric lights.
building in 1907 and by December 1909 it had been completed. In total contrast
to the earlier austere facades to the south and east, the west wing with its
dramatic design and dominating windows heralded the birth of a new style in
20th century European architecture. Internally the most dramatic of interiors
was reserved for the Library with its decorated balcony and central cluster of
electric lights.
Today the Glasgow School of Art is
widely considered to be Mackintosh’s Masterwork.
widely considered to be Mackintosh’s Masterwork.
Since completion over 100 years ago, the
Mackintosh building at the Glasgow School of Art fulfilled its original purpose
as a working art school heart of GSA’s campus on Garnethill.
Mackintosh building at the Glasgow School of Art fulfilled its original purpose
as a working art school heart of GSA’s campus on Garnethill.
Longleaf Lumber
Longleaf Lumber is New England’s antique and
reclaimed lumber company, milling fine reclaimed wood salvaged from historic
industrial and agricultural buildings. We produce reclaimed wood flooring,
paneling, counter and tabletops, stair treads, resawn beams, mouldings, mantels,
and roughsawn lumber. We salvage barn board and hand-hewn beams for commercial and residential applications.
reclaimed lumber company, milling fine reclaimed wood salvaged from historic
industrial and agricultural buildings. We produce reclaimed wood flooring,
paneling, counter and tabletops, stair treads, resawn beams, mouldings, mantels,
and roughsawn lumber. We salvage barn board and hand-hewn beams for commercial and residential applications.
Focused specially on the crafting of
reclaimed Heart Pine flooring, our Heart Pine products are meticulously milled in six outstanding
grades. Our passion for sawing old growth timber is further applied to
reclaimed red and white oak, American chestnut, Pumpkin Pine, maple, hickory, walnut, ash, and every fine hardwood and softwood we carry to our saw sheds.
reclaimed Heart Pine flooring, our Heart Pine products are meticulously milled in six outstanding
grades. Our passion for sawing old growth timber is further applied to
reclaimed red and white oak, American chestnut, Pumpkin Pine, maple, hickory, walnut, ash, and every fine hardwood and softwood we carry to our saw sheds.