STATEMENT : Mackintosh Building Update – Strategic Outline Business Case Addendum

© Alan Mcateer photograph 2023

 

The Glasgow School of Art announced today (8th July) that Reiach and Hall with Purcell have been appointed to undertake the addendum to the Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC).  The Strategic Outline Business Case was published in 2021 and the SOBC Addendum will identify the appropriate route to delivery of the faithful reinstatement of the Mackintosh Building.

 

The SOBC Addendum, which will be published in early 2025, will ensure the GSA can make evidenced-based decisions, ensuring the Mackintosh Building is successfully rebuilt as a working school of art and contributes to the regeneration of Sauchiehall Street and Glasgow City Centre.

 

The combined team will commence work immediately and, with cost and economic consultants, robustly test the GSA’s previous assumptions, costs and economic impact, timelines and approaches to delivery of this significant project.

 

for further information contact press@gsa.ac.uk

 

ENDS

 

NOTES FOR EDITORS

 

Reiach and Hall Architects

Reiach and Hall are an Edinburgh based studio of architects and designers, working both locally and internationally with both private and public sector clients, with extensive experience in the design of Universities and Schools, Research Institutes and Sporting Centres of Excellence, Art Galleries and Workplaces, Hospitals and Homes.  

 

Purcell 

Purcell are one of the world’s largest teams of heritage specialists, bringing together conservation excellence and innovative design. 

 

Mackintosh Building Project progress to date

• Following the June 2018 fire, the Mackintosh Building site was under the control of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service while they undertook a fire investigation report (published in January 2022).  The Mackintosh Building was handed back to The Glasgow School of Art in late summer 2021; 
• During the period the site was under the control of Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, which included the COVID period where all construction work was significantly curtailed, the School progressed with clearance and stabilisation works to the building structure in parallel to the SFRS investigation works.  An update of this work was published in June 2020; 
• To maintain progress with the project, alongside the SFRS investigation and debris clearance and stabilisation works, GSA commissioned the Strategic Outline Business Case in January 2020 which was published in October 2021.  This concluded that the best option for the Mackintosh Building was faithful reinstatement;
• Following publication of the SFRS Fire Investigation Report in January 2022, the GSA undertook further advance works to the Mackintosh Building with Phase 1, physical preparation works and removal of fire damaged material, completed in January 2023; 
• Phase 2A, enabling works completed in June 2023.  This included the installation of the temporary roof and building wrap.  This has enabled the drying out of the building to commence, alongside continued reduction in scaffold and further strategic removal of unstable parts of the structure.  This includes removal of the library piers (replaced post 2014 fire) and internal brick work repairs – primarily main corridor and lintels using salvaged imperial bricks.  All of this work is strategic, sequential and represents advance works in line with our October 2021 commitment to faithful reinstatement of the building;
• The reduction in the external scaffold has allowed us to commence the re-glazing of the Reid Building which was damaged in 2018.  The current phase of this work is now complete. 
• Throughout this period the School has continued to engage with key stakeholders including the Steering Group Mackintosh, a group of external stakeholders with diverse range of skills, knowledge and experience, the Scottish and UK Government, Glasgow City Council and our local communities, alongside progressing further phases of what is a very complex and challenging project;  
• We recognise the importance of the Mackintosh Building and the ABC/Jumpin Jaks as a ‘whole city block’ and the positive impact both projects will have on the wider regeneration of Sauchiehall Street and Garnethill; 
• The strategic importance of the ABC/Jumpin Jaks site was considered as part of our Estates Strategy approved  by our Board in Summer 2022.  This concluded the GSA should work constructively and positively with the owners of the site;
• We have actively participated in Glasgow City Council’s Golden Z project which identified the ABC/Jumpin Jaks site as a strategic development site; 
• Vita Student Living are currently holding public consultations to the ABC/Jumpin Jaks site.  We are proactively engaged in the consultation process and believe that the development of the site, taking cognisance of the context and heritage status of the Mackintosh Building, will have positive economic, social and cultural benefits to Sauchiehall Street and this part of the city centre; 
• We are also engaged and supportive of Glasgow Life/Glasgow City Council Sauchiehall Street Heritage and Cultural Places project which is a 10-year regeneration project for this part of Glasgow City Centre;
• In May 2024 the GSA announced it was undertaking an addendum to the Strategic Outline Business Case published in 2021 and entering in to arbitration with its insurers.  The SOBC Addendum will identify the appropriate route to delivery of the faithful reinstatement of the Mackintosh Building.  

• The GSA issued a Public Contracts Scotland Online Quotation in May 2024 for the appointment of architects to undertake the the addendum to the Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC).

• In July, Reiach and Hall, with Purcell, were appointed to undertake the addendum to the SOBC.  The combined team will commence work immediately and, with cost and economic consultants, robustly test the GSA’s previous assumptions, costs and economic impact, timelines and approaches to delivery of this significant project. The Addendum will be published in early 2025.