Demolition plans for Mackintosh
● Programme of work yet to be decided by officials
Sections of the gutted Mackintosh building have been judged “likely” to suddenly collapse in a safety assessment that has convinced authorities to demolish some of the Glasgow School of Art building.
The dismantling of the fire-ruined structure will start within days.
Glasgow School of Art’s fireravaged Mackintosh building is to be partially demolished on safety grounds after detailed inspections found it was “likely” parts the gutted structure could collapse suddenly.
The second serious blaze in just four years saw flames tore through the famous Charles Rennie Mackintoshdesigned building two weeks ago, before spread to nearby properties including the popular O2 ABC music venue.
It came amid a major restoration project inside the Mackintosh following the previous fire in 2014. The Mackintosh library had been due to reopen this year.
Glasgow City Council confirmed yesterday parts of the building need to be brought down after surveys found the structure had moved more than previously thought.
It was found that a sudden collapse of parts of the building “is likely, rather than possible”, with demolition work is expected to start in the coming days.
Experts said the south facade is the most seriously affected part of the building, while the west gable end has continued to deteriorate and the east gable has continued to move outwards.
The new assessments were made using remote surveys and close-in surveys from baskets suspended from cranes above the structure.
Raymond Barlow, the council’s head of building control, said: “This building has undergone substantial stress in recent days. With each passing day a sudden collapse becomes more likely. It has become urgent that we take down the south facade.
“As the process begins it will be likely that the other walls will also need to be reduced.
“We do not know what effect this will have on the rest of the building so I have to be clear this site remains dangerous and is becoming more dangerous.
“It is particularly important that people observe the cordon which remains in place.”
The local authority has also warned about the risk of falling bricks or stonework on Sauchiehall Street.
A spokeswoman for glasgow School of Art said detailed visual assessments of the A-listed building, regarded as Mackintosh’s masterpiece, had revealed “significantly greater” damage than had initially been anticipated.
It said the east elevation, west elevation, and sections of the east elevation were all classed as “areas of significant concern”.
She said: “The Glasgow School of Art’s site contractor Reigart, together with its structural engineers David Narro Associates, are using all this information to develop a plan of works to achieve structural stability of the building.”
The programme of works will be agreed with Historic Environment Scotland and Glasgow City Council’s building control department. The art school has said once the programme has been finalised, it will inform the public.
The spokeswoman added: “Due to the condition of the Mackintosh Building this work will be undertaken in a highly controlled way to minimise any potential risk of failure and be sufficient to achieve structural stability of the Mackintosh building.
“The aim of the Glasgow School of Art and Glasgow City Council will be to return normal access for residents and businesses as soon as possible.”
COMMENT “With each passing day a sudden collapse becomes more likely. It has become urgent that we take down the south facade”
RAYMOND BARLOW