Campaigners urge creation of independent trust to rebuild Glasgow's Mackintosh Building
Heritage campaigners have urged the Glasgow School of Art to hand over the reconstruction of the fire-ravaged Mackintosh Building to an independent organisation, warning that the £265 million restoration requires fresh governance.
The Glasgow School of Art Mackintosh Building covered in scaffolding during restoration works. · Photograph: Photo: Stinglehammer via Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Responsibility for resurrecting the fire-ravaged Mackintosh Building should be removed from the Glasgow School of Art and handed to a dedicated external body, according to heritage campaigners. The Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society argued that establishing a special-purpose organisation is the most viable path to oversee the governance, multi-million-pound fundraising drive, and complex reconstruction of the world-renowned architectural treasure.
The historic Glasgow landmark suffered catastrophic damage during two separate blazes in 2014 and June 2018. In July, institution leaders revealed that the projected budget for an authentic reinstatement had climbed to £265 million, warning that the art school could not complete the scheme without substantial additional financial support from outside sources.
Under current proposals, the art school intends to use its insurance payout to finance essential initial works, which include stabilising the surviving masonry and dismantling the massive external scaffolding wrap. Matthew Williams, director of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society, confirmed that the group supports these immediate stabilisation measures so the public can assess the remaining historic fabric, but insisted that management should transfer immediately afterwards to ensure the broader restoration succeeds.
Outlining its proposal in a new report, the charity—established in 1973 to safeguard the architect's legacy—emphasised that securing the required £265 million would demand joint investment from both the Scottish and UK administrations, combined with private philanthropic donations. The organisation stressed that comprehensive 3D laser scans, architectural drawings, and detailed archives compiled before the second blaze ensure that a faithful reconstruction remains technically achievable.
Criticising what it described as limited progress in resolving the building's future in the years following the 2018 fire, the society maintained that an independent vehicle is needed to break the impasse. In response, a spokesperson for the Glasgow School of Art stated that the institution welcomed the society's ongoing input and common ambition to see the Mackintosh reinstated, adding that the charity remains a valued stakeholder as discussions proceed with potential funding partners.