New pictures show the painstaking work to dismantle parts of Glasgow School of Art’s Mackintosh building after it was gutted by a second devastating fire.
Experts ruled that sections of the renowned building had to be removed on safety grounds after flames tore through the art school on June 15.
The fire took hold amid a major restoration project following another large blaze at the Charles Rennie Mackintosh-designed school in 2014, with nearby properties including music venue the O2 ABC also affected.
Work by structural engineers David Narro Associates and GSA contractor Reigart will see removed parts moved into storage with the hope the Mack, as it is affectionately known, can be rebuilt.
They confirmed on Wednesday the work which began last week has been going to schedule, with three cranes operating on site for 12 hours almost every day.
The central section of the south facade, above Sauchiehall Street, has been lowered and the south-east staircase – one of the most fragile areas of the building – has been taken down safely.
On the north-east facade the steel beams of the roof structure have been removed and in the centre of the north facade the turret and a section directly above the main entrance have also been removed.
Where stonework has been assessed as significantly damaged and too dangerous to lift off the building, it has been pushed into the interior.
Professor Tom Inns, Glasgow School of Art director, said: “The GSA’s priority is to make the Mackintosh Building safe and stable so that the community can return to their homes and businesses at the earliest possible moment.
“Our contractors are working hard to achieve this and are currently on schedule.”
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