Steel restraints up on fire-hit Mack

Stabilisation work is underway at the Mackintosh Building as efforts continue to make the fire-hit art school safe.

Experts say steel restraints have been installed on the east gable of the Glasgow site, allowing for the replacement of scaffolding.

At the west end of the building, the existing scaffolding on the north facade has been cut away, meaning high-level work can start to remove roof steelwork. Work has also begun to make a key area of the ABC O2 building safe so stabilisation of the south facade of the Mackintosh Building can proceed.

Flames tore through the Charles Rennie Mackintoshdesigned building on 15 June – the second devastating fire to hit the art school.

The blaze has had a big impact on the local Garnethill community, with locals frustrated they cannot access their properties to retrieve possessions.

Glasgow School of Art director Professor Tom Inns said: “Our focus continues to be on the east gable and south facade, which are the areas of the building impacting most on our neighbours and we hope to begin installing the shoring scaffolding later this week.

“We continue to work closely with Glasgow City Council building standards keeping them advised of the progress of the work, so they can review the position of the security cordon.”