MACKINTOSH BUILDING INFORMATION: WORK UNDERTAKEN JUNE 2018 – JUNE 2020

June 15, 2020
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Mackintosh Building, June 2018 – June 2020

Since June 2018 The Glasgow School of Art has undertaken stabilisation work and ongoing monitoring of the building; significant clearance work to facilitate access requested by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service; detailed photographic surveys and salvage work to inform the rebuild.  
Area of the building cleared as part of the works for SFRS access

Work undertaken to stabilise the Mackintosh Building:

(June – October 2018)

Bracing scaffolding installed as part of the stabilisation work

  • Central section of south facade lowered to the bottom of the parapetSouth walls and south section significantly reduced
  • Upper sections of the south east staircase, one of the most fragile areas of the building, partially taken down
  • Turret and set back section directly above the main entrance removed, and the tops of the two return walls been lowered to second floor level.
  • RHS beams on north east corner removed
  • East gable remedial steel restraint strapping installed and gable lowered
  • Shoring scaffolding put up around the east gable and north façade 
  • Wall heads on north façade, and centre and east sections of the south facade braced
  • Retention scaffolding on west gable and a specially-designed restraint system over the library tower on the south west corner installed
  • Severely damaged material either pushed into the building or craned down from the site.
All statements on the work to stabilise the building during this period can be found on the Media Centre
https://gsamediacentre.co.uk

Work undertaken for access requested by SFRS

(Autumn 2018 – Spring 2020)


Autumn 2018 – Spring 2019

  • Removal of the fire damaged material from areas highlighted by the SFRS for initial access including Keir’s Office/reception points 
  • Clearance and stabilisation to allow access to central plant room – a complex process which required a substantial amount of propping 



View into the central corridor showing the fire damaged material
which was removed to facilitate further access request from SFRS

  • In response to a further request from SFRS, work began on a substantial project to give access along the whole of the south side of the building as requested by SFRS and work began. It was expected to take 24 weeks
  • Main activity focussed initially on the west side of the building from Scott Street

  • Reigart Contracts Ltd advised the GSA that in line with Scottish government policy they would close the site until further notice. 

Restart of work 

(summer 2020)

  • The GSA contractor, Reigart Contracts Ltd, continues to follow Scottish Government guidelines. The site will be reopened as soon they are allowed to get back to work.
  • The GSA has written confirmation from Reigart Contracts Ltd that they have consulted with their employees and that they are happy to return to work when this is possible under the Scottish Government guidelines. 
  • A plan for implementing and monitoring social distancing on the site has also been prepared by Reigart Contracts Ltd.
  • SFRS have confirmed that they were also available to start on site as soon as work begins
  • Inspections of the Mackintosh Building and the Reid Building began Friday 12 June. as part of an ongoing programme

Salvage, inspection & monitoring and recording

(June 2018 – June 2020)

  • The condition of the building and the scaffolding have been carefully monitored throughout
  • Key material taken from the building has retained for research and reuse (salvage of stone, timber and metal elements for dimensional information.)
  • There has been oversight by Addyman Archaeology and discovery of some artefacts
  • 3D Visualisation, detailed photography and aerial drone work started in the immediate aftermath of the fire. The drone footage of the interior of the building is now virtually completed. 
  • The use of the drone was invaluable in giving an early look at the whole building and has continued to be a useful tool initially for information gathering and latterly for the extensive photographic survey undertaken of the interior of the building.
  • Rectified photographic imagery is also being undertaken to allow detailed remote survey of the structure, in particular of the condition of the internal masonry walls.
  • The rectified photographs form an important snapshot record of the building, the damage and the down-taking. This cutting-edge tool has been particularly valuable providing high resolution photographs of almost all areas, thus allowing inspection of the structure without accessing it.
  • The rectified photography has additional educational benefits. It can be used in teaching and learning
  • A further programme of scanning is planned following the return to work on site which will result in a completed high-resolution point cloud.

Intent 

The GSA has confirmed that Mackintosh’s masterpiece will rise again
There are inextricable links between the Mackintosh Building, the GSA and the educational experience of our students, and between the GSA and Glasgow’s position as an internationally acclaimed creative city. We are committed to bringing it back as a working art school for future generations of students, and for the city of Glasgow.
We have the expertise and the information to rebuild Mackintosh’s masterwork, and there is an exciting opportunity to bring back the Mack at the heart of a major regeneration envisaged for Sauchiehall Street. We will work closely with our local community and the City leadership to help make this vision a reality.
The Mackintosh Building was conceived as a place where creativity and innovation would flourish.  Its unique design has attracted generations of students to Glasgow, many of whom have stayed on and contributed to make the city one of Europe’s leading centres of creative production. The Glasgow School of Art will ensure that the Mackintosh Building continues to play a key role in the life of the School, of Garnethill and of Glasgow for generations to come
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