The Mackintosh building would cost at least £100 million to repair, say experts
Experts have estimated that the cost of rebuilding the gutted Mackintosh Building would be at least £100 million, if anything can be salvaged at all.
Fire risk and construction management academics at Glasgow Caledonian University have put forward their views on the extent of the damage and how big a repair bill would be.
Flames ripped through the historic property, designed by architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh, on Friday night.
Professor Billy Hare said: 'The damage to the School of Art appeared to be overwhelming, much worse than the last fire from which recovered materials were painstakingly analysed and used in the refurbishment of the building.
'It is sadly questionable what, if anything, will be left that could be salvaged, restored or recreated after this fire.
'It remains to be seen if it will be possible to retain a facade from the current building. If not, damaged buildings have been taken down almost stone by stone in the past and rebuilt with a new, internal frame.
'This sort of project will cost a great deal more than the estimated £35 million after the last fire in May 2014'.
A conservative estimated cost for full rebuilding of the damaged building would be at least £100 million, he added.
The academics believe it is likely the fire started in the upper levels of the property, due to the roof appearing well alight in the early stages.