The Glasgow School of Art has announced that a full restoration of the fire-damaged Mackintosh building is currently unaffordable due to rising costs.
Key facts
- •The Mackintosh building was damaged by fires in 2014 and 2018.
- •A full reconstruction is estimated to cost £265 million.
- •The GSA is currently removing external scaffolding and stabilizing the remaining stone walls.
- •Professional architectural bodies have called for government support to ensure a faithful reinstatement.
- •The 2014 fire was ignited by an aerosol canister of expanding foam.
The Glasgow School of Art (GSA) has stated that a full, faithful reconstruction of the historic 1909 Mackintosh building is unlikely due to a projected cost of £265 million. The landmark, considered a masterpiece of art nouveau architecture, was severely damaged by two separate fires in 2014 and 2018. The school is currently focusing on stabilizing the remaining structure and removing external scaffolding while the long-term future of the site remains under debate.
By the numbers
Financial and Structural Challenges
The estimated £265 million required for a full rebuild is four times higher than previous estimates and five times the GSA’s annual turnover. The school has confirmed it cannot fund this project independently. Current efforts are focused on stabilizing the shell of the building, with costs for this phase reportedly covered by a settlement with insurers following arbitration.
Calls for National Intervention
Professional bodies, including the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland and the Royal Institute of British Architects, have urged the Scottish and UK governments to provide leadership and resources for a full restoration. Labour MSP Paul Sweeney has also advocated for a joint venture partnership to treat the project as a national priority, warning that failure to restore the building could lead to a permanent loss of heritage.
History of the Site
The building’s decline began with a 2014 fire caused by an aerosol canister near a projector. Although much of the structure was saved and a £35 million restoration was underway, a second, more destructive fire occurred in 2018 just weeks before the project's completion. Critics argue that any solution short of a full rebuild would diminish the integrity of the original design.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by The Guardian Culture.
