WORK to partially dismantle sections of the fire-hit Glasgow School of Art Mackintosh building is expected to start as a matter of urgency after surveys revealed a sudden collapse of parts of the building is likely.
Glasgow City Council said remote and close-in surveys from baskets suspended from cranes have revealed “more substantial movement in the walls of the building than previously thought”.
The council said there is now a requirement to at least partially dismantle sections as a matter of “urgency”. However, due to the dangerous nature of the site, it will take around two days to devise a methodology for taking down the south façade, the most seriously affected part of the building.
“While it is not possible to say for certain what the methodology will be, the demolition contractor has been asked to consider beginning at the Eastern side of the site,” a statement on Glasgow City Council’s website revealed. “If this is possible it could make it more likely that we will be able to make the East wall safe and allow access to residents in Dalhousie Street. However Glasgow City Council, GSoA and the contractors wish to be clear that people should still not believe that this will be a quick process and that it is still impossible to say how long the cordon will remain in place.”
Raymond Barlow, the council’s head of building control 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.”
