Don’t be frugal on Art School

YOU report that Glasgow School of Art alumni Professor Alan Dunlop believes a trust should be formed to take forward the GSA rebuild (“Top architect calls for trust to be created to oversee GSA rebuild”, The Herald, May 3). A fine and timely suggestion, as to date, since the 2014 fire, goodness what has been happening.

In 2014 an appeal for the repair/ rebuild was started and £20 million was raised; this sum in part became a surplus, as apparently the eventual insurance payout from the 2014 fire would almost cover the costs. In 2016 the GSA purchased Stow College for £6m, and a rebranded Mcintosh Campus Appeal followed, raising an unreported further amount to benefit the whole GSA campus; a large part of this fund was spent on upgrading the Stow College building, though not following the first grandiose scheme proposed at the time.

Asbestos/bitumen coatings discovered after the purchase still remain on the roof cladding and in interiors, in part now covered over by plasterboard as temporary protection. A second fire followed in 2018, again reportedly covered by a £50m payout.

Why now be cost-conscious with the funds? Start another appeal, and continue with the apparently gay abandon as with previous sums of monies raised. As is apparently and thankfully now being considered, they should do the rebuild, but not be too frugal with the budget and give Glasgow an updated, safe, yet glorious building, following Mcintosh’s original design thoughts, but not necessarily a stone by stone copy.

George Dale, Beith.