Art School Announces Shortlist

Glasgow School of Art has announced the firms shortlisted to lead the restoration of the building which was badly damaged by fire last year.

The five-strong shortlist comprises Avanti Architects, John McAslan and Partners, LDN Architects LLP, Page\Park Architects and Purcell.

The city and the art world were rocked on May 23 when flames engulfed the Grade A-listed building, leading to the loss of about a tenth of the structure and 30% of its contents.

A fire investigation found that the blaze began when a projector ignited gases from expanding foam used in a student project.

Art school bosses want to restore the structure - designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh more than a century ago - to its former glory as a fully functioning art, architecture and design school.

Liz Davidson, Mackintosh Restoration Project director at The Glasgow School of Art, said: All of the shortlisted practices have a strong record in undertaking major restoration and work in historic buildings together with an impressive commitment to the use of new technology and the finest craftsmanship.

They each bring the level of experience and expertise that is vital to the restoration of Mackintosh's masterpiece. We are now looking forward to hearing more about their proposed approaches.''

The five practices have now been invited to present more detailed proposals on their approach to the restoration.

They will make their presentations in mid March 2015 and the appointment will be made by the end of the month.

London-based Avanti Architects' past portfolio of heritage building work includes the project to bring back into use Alfred Waterhouse's 1887 Victoria Building at Liverpool University and the restoration of the iconic Art Deco Midland Hotel in Morecambe.

Edinburgh, London and Manchester-based John McAslan and Partners undertook the restoration of Charles Rennie Mackintosh's re-design of 78 Derngate in Northampton in 2007 and also led the restoration of Erich Mendelsohn and Serge Chermayeff's Grade I listed De La Warr Pavilion and of the Marche en Fer in Haiti.

Glasgow-based Page\Park 's historic buildings portfolio include the redevelopment of Glasgow's Centre for Contemporary Art, the recent refurbishment of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery and the conversion of Mackintosh's Herald Building into The Lighthouse architecture and design centre.

Edinburgh and Forres-based LDN Architects LLP have undertaken a range of heritage projects including Sir Walter Scott's Abbotsford House, Strathpeffer Spa Pavilion and the A Listed Fort Augustus Abbey on Loch Ness, while UK and Hong Kong-based Purcell's historic building projects have ranged from the redevelopment of Hong Kong's 1841 Central Police Station to work at Kew Palace, Knowle House, The School of Arts in Chatham and the National Mining Museum in Scotland.