February 22 2019

Glasgow’s fire-ravaged Sauchiehall Street is set for further change after a demolition application was filed for the C-listed former ABC Cinema.

Left a charred shell by the Glasgow School of Art fire the venue suffered extensive damage, resulting in moves to clear the street frontage from 304-332 Sauchiehall Street in its entirety.

An assessment by RM Consulting concluded that the combined effects of fire and water damage rendered economic reinstatement of the damaged building as being unfeasible.

The assessors wrote: “The front elevation requires to be safely demolished to allow access to the building at high level with suitable plant to shear and remove the steel roof structure. This would allow subsequent access to the east elevation and its careful removal but also allow a close assessment and careful investigation of the relationship between the rear wall and the attached GSoA…”

This has already sparked a backlash from politicians with Alison Thewliss MP and Sandra White MSP jointly declaring that its removal would be ‘completely unacceptable’.

The pair wrote: “Despite the incredible contribution this building has made to Glasgow, it has received little in the way of attention in the wake of last summer’s fire – indeed in contrast to the support afforded to the GSoA it has paled in comparison.”

Glasgow City Council are currently deliberating on the application.

 

8 Comments

#1 Posted by EM0 on 22 Feb 2019 at 12:28 PM

I really hope somehow they can do facade retention, Saichiehall St has so little charm as it is!!

#2 Posted by jimbob tanktop on 22 Feb 2019 at 12:52 PM

An infinitely bigger loss to the lives of Glaswegians than the Mack, in all honesty.

#3 Posted by Pleasantfield on 22 Feb 2019 at 12:52 PM

Please demolish the brown brick horror at the opposite end as well. Its dreadful and always has been. Just maybe Muriel and the Board should acquire and run a competition to redevelop the whole block as part of the Art School. The Glasgow College frontage looks great open and welcoming. Lets get some good architectural design for a change.

#4 Posted by Derek Wilson on 22 Feb 2019 at 15:47 PM

#3 There have been a few proposals for that site which have failed due to their scale in relation to the MacK. Perhaps that problem is now solved?

#5 Posted by jimbob tanktop on 22 Feb 2019 at 17:34 PM

#3 I agree it's time that block saw some high-quality buildings but if you believe its stewardship should be left to Muriel and her pals then in that we differ.

#6 Posted by Edward Harkins on 25 Feb 2019 at 12:51 PM

Large tracts of Sauchiehall Street & Argyle Street now looking seedy & rundown if not actually distressed. Does not bode well for 'retail destination' Glasgow

#7 Posted by Sharon on 14 Sep 2020 at 23:17 PM

I read that it's been on the cards for quite sometime now to change the face of Sauchiehall St as it is really quite rundown looking. The blaze that took hold in The Glasgow School of Art of the 2nd time was more severe taking other buildings alongwith it. To be honest I find it hard to get my head around that a 2nd fire took place within The Glasgow School of Art for the second. It devasting.

#8 Posted by Whispering Andy on 15 Sep 2020 at 14:15 PM

Whisper it.....but that building has always looked out of place in Glasgow. Looks more like a seaside town's cartoony attempt at a castle. Can almost smell the stench of cheap fish suppers and candy floss from it.

I for one am looking forward to it disappearing into the history books and be replaced with a new building with a far greater sense of place.

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