Between 2007 and 2010 The Glasgow School of Art undertook a project to conserve both the fabric of its world-famous A-listed Mackintosh building and its unique archive and museum collections (including the Nationally Recognised Charles Rennie Mackintosh Collection). Conservation work was undertaken on the School’s Mackintosh Library and a new Archives and Collections Centre was created, allowing enhanced access to GSA’s historical holdings across archives, collections and library. The project cost of £8.6 million was met by HLF, Historic Scotland, Glasgow City Council, Scottish Enterprise and Strathclyde European Partnership. Sadly, the fire that ravaged the Mackintosh Building in May this year destroyed the historic interior of the library and damaged the Archives and Collections Centre.

This short case study describes the outcomes of the project, and discusses some of the challenges and opportunities encountered when employing historic spaces within creative learning. It will touch upon early plans for the reinstatement of the lost spaces.