The Glasgow School of Art (GSA) has announced that the full restoration of its iconic Mackintosh Building will cost approximately £265 million, a figure five times the institution's annual turnover. The art school stated that it cannot undertake the faithful reinstatement of the historic structure on its own, despite a recent settlement of a long-running insurance claim. Rising construction costs have significantly contributed to the funding gap.
The building, designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, was severely damaged by fires in May 2014 and again on June 15, 2018. The latter blaze occurred as a £35 million restoration project, initiated after the first fire, was nearing completion.
Ann Priest, chair of the GSA's board of governors, emphasized the desire to rebuild the globally important structure but stressed that the financial sustainability of the GSA cannot be jeopardized. Since the initial fire in 2014, the school has demonstrated its ability to thrive independently of the Mackintosh Building.
Instead of a direct restoration, the GSA is exploring a new vision for the building, proposing it as an anchor project for a "creative and cultural production innovation district" within the city. Discussions have commenced with local and national government bodies, stakeholders, and potential partners to assess the feasibility of this collective endeavor. The GSA plans to use the insurance settlement to fund an "enabling project," which will include replacing the external scaffolding with an internal retention system. This phase aims to secure the structure and prepare it for future works.
Stephen Hodder, a GSA board member and architect, expressed support for this new phase. Katerina Brown, CEO of Historic Environment Scotland, described the announcement as a "milestone" and welcomed the investment in a building of global importance, stating that her organization is already engaging with the GSA on the project's next steps. Scottish First Minister John Swinney acknowledged the building's significance to Scotland's heritage and indicated the Scottish Government's willingness to engage constructively with the GSA to explore ways to ensure the building's future use and restoration.