Conserving a Gilbert Scott landmark:
University of Glasgow Main Building
Gilmorehill, Glasgow
The University of Glasgow's Main Building on Gilmorehill was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott and completed by John Oldrid Scott, who added the tower and spire in 1887 to 1891. Built in local stone with Kenmure freestone dressings and columns of red sandstone and pink granite, it is one of Scotland's best-known Victorian landmarks. For the university's Estates department we delivered the Phase 10 external conservation works.
The challenge
The works took place in the middle of a working campus, so health and safety, noise and disruption had to be tightly controlled. Extensive roof stripping put the buildings beneath at risk of water ingress, including the Hunterian Museum and its collections. The historic importance of the building demanded conservation work of the highest standard from us and every specialist working with us.
Our solution
We set up a compound segregated from the public with stand-off fencing, programmed noisy activities for the least disruptive periods and restricted deliveries and site traffic to early mornings. A temporary roof encapsulation kept the building watertight, with additional local protection wherever roofs were opened until new coverings and gutters were working. The scope covered indenting of plain and moulded stonework, repointing, slating and leadwork, timber gutter and structural timber repairs, new cast iron rainwater goods, overhaul of cast iron windows, decoration and new lightning protection. Our directly employed, largely LTM Academy-trained workforce and carefully vetted specialists kept quality consistent throughout.
Outcomes
Watertight throughout
Temporary roof encapsulation protected the Hunterian Museum and other sensitive spaces during the roof works.
A working campus kept running
Programmed noisy work and early-morning deliveries kept disruption to university life to a minimum.
Multi-trade delivery
Masonry, slating, leadwork, joinery, cast iron and decoration delivered by one co-ordinated team.
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