The risk of sudden collapse of the Glasgow School of Art’s Mackintosh building following a blaze earlier this month means the work to partially dismantle it will begin within days.
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Remote and close-in surveys by Glasgow City Council building inspectors have revealed that there has been more substantial movement in the walls of the buildings than previously thought, making sudden collapse of parts of the building “likely” rather than just possible.
Glasgow City Council said work to at last partially dismantle sections of the building would begin “as a matter of urgency”.
However, it is expected to take around two days to devise a methodology for taking down the south façade, the most seriously affected part of the building, because of the dangers involved.
The council said the west gable of the building has also continued to deteriorate, while the east gable continues to move outwards.
A demolition contractor has been asked to consider beginning at the eastern side of the site, with work due to start “as soon as possible”.
Glasgow City Council’s head of building control Raymond Barlow 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 façade. 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."
All of the work that contractor Kier has undertaken at the Glasgow School of Art since 2016 as part of its £35m restoration project is likely to have been destroyed in the “exceptionally significant” fire on 15 June.
Kier Construction Scotland was contracted to do the work after a first fire damaged the Mackintosh building in Glasgow’s Renfrew Street in 2014.
The contractor was expected to complete the restoration work in early 2019.
A Kier spokesperson said: “An agreed fire safety strategy was implemented for the build phase of the Mackintosh restoration project, which combined measures for the protection of all those entering the site to work and to alert the authorities in the event of an outbreak of fire.
"These included a smoke and heat detection system and regular evacuation tests as well as 24-hour, seven days a week security and fire warden patrols by a team of three guards, originally appointed by the client after the 2014 fire and subsequently by Kier.
"We continue to work with and support Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and our client as they determine the next steps for the Mackintosh building and site.
"We have a passionate team of local construction and crafts people, skilled conservators, supply chain and engineering specialists who have worked incredibly hard on this iconic landmark, and together we are all keen to do whatever we can to help moving forward.”
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