Almost 12 months after the Glasgow School of Art launched a contest to find an architect to oversee rebuilding work on the Charles Rennie Mackintosh designed building, the search has been abandoned and restarted.
In a statement, the school blamed a “technical error in the scoring matrix used in the procurement process”.
It said a new invitation would be issued ‘in due course’ following a ‘thorough’ review and that it remained committed to its original restoration timetable.
Glasgow MSP Paul Sweeney said the news was the “latest in a long line of setbacks” for the rebuild, which he described as “an unmitigated disaster from the outset.”
The restoration of the building, that dates back to 1909, is expected to cost more than £100 million and take until 2030 to complete.
More than 5,500 tonnes of fire-damaged material have been removed ahead of the reinstatement of the A-listed building’s internal structure and the installation of a temporary roof over the next few months.
The architectural significance of the building and its place within the cultural landscape of Glasgow is matched with the influence the Art School has had on local music, fashion, literature and social interactions.
GSA has attracted many of Glasgow’s most creative people. Here are some famous faces who studied at Glasgow School of Art.
13. Fran Healy and Dougie Payne
Travis members Fran Healy and Dougie Payne were both students at Glasgow School of Art. Healy joined the band on the day that he enrolled at the art school during the autumn of 1991. | Getty Images
14. Bob Hardy
Franz Ferdinand bassist Bob Hardy attended Glasgow School of Art. | Getty Images | Getty Images
15. Peter Howson
Artist Peter Howson studied at Glasgow School of Art, from 1975 to 1977, and from 1979 to 1981, before embarking on a trailblazing career as an artist. | Supplied Photo: Greg Macvean