GSA image taken today by IHBC’s Alison McCandlish
Glasgow School of Art fire from 10 miles distance – courtesy of IHBC Member, Alison McCandlish
BBC Scotland report that ‘a major blaze has broken out at the A-listed Glasgow School of Art – one of Scotland’s most iconic buildings’.
The dramatic art nouveau design of the Glasgow School of Art building took 12 years to be completed, finally opening in 1909.
Eyewitnesses said the fire appeared to have started when a projector exploded in the basement of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh building just before 12:30.
Smoke is billowing from the main windows, which are cracking, and through the attic studios.
The art school said everyone in the building escaped safely and there have been no reports of any casualties.
Final year students were said to have been preparing for their end of year degree show in the building when the blaze broke out. The deadline for submissions to the degree was 17:00.
Police have cordoned off Renfrew Street, and smoke was also drifting across the M8. Large crowds of students and onlookers gathered near the scene, with several people in tears as they watched the events unfold.
