The future of Glasgow’s faded Met Tower was tackled by school pupils from across Glasgow who came together for a creative summit funded by The Social Hub.

Campaigner Andrew Dobbie launched the campaign in December last year, calling for the once-bright pink tower beside George Square to be refreshed with new artwork, creating a new symbol for the city ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

For years, the building carried the iconic “People Make Glasgow” slogan – which became synonymous with the city during the 2014 Games – but the vinyl has since faded and begun peeling.

You can read more about the campaign here.

After attracting millions of social media views, thousands of petition signatures, and hundreds of conversations with people and organisations across the city and beyond, Glasgow’s children are now having their say.

This week, some of the city’s most influential creative minds came together with 20 young people from Castleton Primary School, Sunnyside Primary School, St Patrick’s Primary School and Pirie Park Primary School in a full-day workshop at SWG3’s Yardworks, fully funded by The Social Hub, the hospitality venue which celebrates its second anniversary in Glasgow’s Candleriggs next month.

BBC Scotland’s Home of the Year star Danny Campbell – founder of Hoko Design, architect and Social Hub ambassador – led the children through a series of creative exercises inspired by the building, with sessions also led by creative agency MadeBrave, as well as artists Conzo Throb, Agata Pietrusz, Rob Johnson, and Jonny Mowat.

Quickblocks also provided modular building blocks to recreate the Met Tower in miniature, giving children a hands-on way to share artwork and ideas designed to inspire the people of Glasgow.

Interest in the project has already spread across the city. Pupils at Castleton Primary School in Castlemilk recently sent in their own creative re-designs for the tower.

Andrew Dobbie, founder and CEO of MadeBrave, said: “We want to use this moment to empower young people to help reimagine what this symbol could stand for and say – and in doing so, inspire belief in the next generation’s ability to shape their future and the future of their city.

“People really do make Glasgow. I've seen that more than ever these past few weeks with businesses being impacted following the fire. Children will be the ones who live with whatever happens next, so it’s only right they help inspire what the solution could be. And after seeing them come together and work to solve this problem, my belief in the creativity of young people is stronger than ever.

“The city centre is changing, and Glasgow is about to be back on the global stage. The Met Tower sits right at the heart of that.”

The Social Hub Glasgow General Manager Ben McLeod said: “Glasgow is a city built on creativity and collaboration, and we’re proud to support this next stage of Andrew’s incredible campaign.

“The idea of inspiring young people together and engaging the younger generation as part of this project captures exactly the spirit of what The Social Hub stands for: bringing communities together through connection and creativity.”

Dobbie remains in discussion with the building’s owners, having submitted a proposal to Vita Group, and remains hopeful of permission to provide a creative solution for the tower ahead of Glasgow 2026, with support from The Social Hub and other brands waiting in the wings.