Main contractor to be appointed in June to the restoration of Mackintosh building
Five contractors have been shortlisted for the restoration of the fire-ravaged Mackintosh Building for the Glasgow School of Art.
Balfour Beatty, Bam, John Graham, Kier and Sir Robert McAlpine have all been invited to tender for the job, on which Gardiner & Theobald is acting as cost and project manager.
The Mackintosh building is regarded as one of the finest examples of art nouveau architecture in the world and a masterpiece of Scottish architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh. In May 2014 it suffered severe damage in a fire, with the library and around 10% of the structure completely destroyed.
The Glasgow School of Art is planning to appoint a main contractor in June with a view to starting on site shortly afterwards. It is aiming to complete the restoration of both the Mackintosh Building and the McLennan Galleries in time for the 2017/18 academic year.
The school said the removal of the stonework comprising the library window gable will be among the first jobs to be undertaken, followed by reconstruction of roofs which were totally destroyed in the fire.
Liz Davidson, senior project manager on the Mackintosh Restoration, said the contractor needed to be able to deliver a range of technical requirements and have a “proven track record” of bringing in major restoration projects in on time and on budget.
The contractor will also be required to commit to an extensive programme of recruiting and training apprentices to support Glasgow’s economy, as well as deliver education and outreach programmes in the area.
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