Internal support system and steelwork planned for Mackintosh Building
Summary
The Glasgow School of Art has announced plans to remove the external scaffold around the Mackintosh Building and replace it with an internal support system from 2027, alongside a temporary roof, selected permanent steelwork and internal repairs. The first phase is intended to stabilise the Category A-listed building after the 2018 fire, but it will not make the building usable and further reinstatement phases will still be required.
Why it matters
The project involves a listed building, major structural intervention and multiple statutory approvals, all of which are relevant to surveyors working on heritage, fire-damaged or complex refurbishment schemes. It also highlights the financial and delivery constraints that can shape long-term reinstatement strategies for significant buildings.
Key points
- External scaffold is planned to be removed and replaced by an internal support system from 2027.
- Works include a temporary roof, selected permanent steelwork and internal repairs.
- The building remains unusable after this phase, but the intervention is intended to stabilise it for later reinstatement.
- The project is funded from the insurance settlement following the 2018 fire.
- Planning permission, listed building consent and other statutory approvals are still required.
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