Art school walls to come down as the bulldozers move in
PART of the fire-ravaged Glasgow School of Art is to be demolished amid fears it is ‘likely’ to collapse.
The 109-year-old Mackintosh Building was engulfed by a blaze two weeks ago – the second in four years – leaving only a burnt-out shell.
Flames were first sighted at the art nouveau landmark at around 11.20pm on Friday, June 15, and soon spread to the nearby O2 ABC concert venue. The surrounding area remains cordoned off.
Glasgow City Council said yesterday that action has to be taken because the walls of the building – named after architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh and known as the ‘Mack’ – have moved farther than first thought as a result of the blaze.
The prospect of the building falling in on itself has now been upgraded from ‘possible’ to ‘likely’.
The south façade, worst affected by the fire, is to be torn down. With both sides of the shell becoming more unstable every day, the east and west gables may also have to be ‘reduced’. However, there is hope for the iconic front of the building, on Renfrew Street.
Raymond Barlow, head of building control at Glasgow City Council, admitted the burnt-out shell had ‘undergone substantial stress’ in recent days.
He said: ‘With each passing day a sudden collapse becomes more likely. It has become urgent that we take down the south façade.
‘As the process begins it will be likely that the other walls will need to be reduced. We do not know what effect this will have on the rest of the building, so this site remains dangerous and is becoming more dangerous.
‘It is particularly important that people observe the cordon which remains in place.’
Billy Hare, professor of construction management at Glasgow Caledonian University, said: ‘Materials and specialists could be procured within a week but it could be several weeks or a month before any member of the public is allowed around the exclusion zone.’
Demolition experts who have monitored the building over the past week have decided that bringing down part of the Mack is a matter of urgency.
But the site is still too dangerous and it will take contractors two days to figure out how they will go about their work. Councillors are urging people to respect the cordon because there is a risk of bricks falling and stones rolling downhill into nearby buildings.
News of the demolition comes as the Scottish Government announced a grant of £1,500 for each household displaced by the fire. This will be matched by Glasgow City Council, for a total of £3,000 per household.
Local firms can apply to have their rates reduced, or cancelled, if they can prove trading has slowed since the inferno. Finance Secretary Derek Mackay said: ‘We are working with Glasgow City Council to ensure the emergency funding is released to all those impacted as soon as possible.’
Angela Simpson, 54, who has lived opposite the art school for 28 years, said she had been sent ‘from pillar to post’ after her flat was cordoned off by the blaze.’
Miss Smith was sent initially to a hostel for the homeless but, fearing for the safety of children she was caring for, she checked into a hotel then found a holiday let. She received £80 from a community fund but that cash lasted only days.
She said: ‘I’ve no idea where I’ll be sent next.
‘I can’t get back to my flat to gather my things and I’m living in the same few clothes. They are not looking after us.’
‘The site remains dangerous’
‘I can’t get back to my flat’