The alterations concerned the partial downtaking and consolidation of the A-listed building as well as temporary works to make it safe.

Shoring scaffolding on the east gable is set for completion in the next two weeks and work on the scaffolding for the south east corner is also underway, the GSA confirmed.

Specialist scaffolders SGB have been working seven days a week to install the critical shoring scaffolding which will ensure that the Dalhousie Street end of the building is safe and stable.

Last week Reigart were also on site seven days with two cranes and two mobile elevated working platforms (MEWPs) progressing the managed dismantling. There was some down time on Wednesday 8 August due to high winds, but this had minimal impact on the overall work schedule.

Work continued around the whole of the building with down taking of the dangerous masonry nearing completion in all zones except the south west corner (the library tower). Plans for critical shoring and bracing have also been progressed with work already underway on the south east corner (above Sauchiehall Street), and work on the northeast corner scheduled to begin later this week.

Following the completion of initial safety work on the ABC O2, the main crane has now been moved to the corner of Scott Street and Sauchiehall Street to facilitate access to the west end of the south façade and the west gable. The existing scaffolding is being cut away and removed from this area allowing further access for down-takings. The sandstone upstand gables of studio 58 (above the library) have now been reduced with the majority of the stone lowered to street level for cataloguing and removal to offsite storage.

Professor Tom Inns, director of The Glasgow School of Art, said: “The shoring scaffolding on Dalhousie Street, which is the critical part of the work to make the east gable safe, is on schedule for completion in the next two weeks. After this we hope very much that Glasgow City Council Building Control will reduce the size of the security cordon.

“We continue to work seven days a week to make the whole of the Mackintosh Building stable as soon as possible so that the community can return to their homes and businesses. Our primary focus to date has been on the east gable and south façade which are most significantly impacting on the community, but following initial safety work on the ABC O2 we have now begun dismantling the dangerous parts of the west gable in earnest.”

Images courtesy of the Glasgow School of Art