<p>A planned reconstruction of the Glasgow School of Art, a Mackintosh-designed building that was severely damaged by fire eight years ago, is uncertain after its owners said they cannot fund the project alone.</p>
<p>The school said rebuilding in line with Mackintosh’s designs would cost 265 million pounds, about $355 million, which it described as unaffordable and financially unsustainable for the institution.</p>
<p>Currently, the plan is to remove scaffolding and install an internal support system, but this would not restore the building to working condition without external funding.</p>
<p>Historical perspectives emphasize the building’s global significance, with calls for government support from a renowned architectural historian, while acknowledging limited public funds in the current economic climate.</p>
<p>The Scottish government’s education and culture minister indicated a preference for a faithful rebuild and noted the government would assist in securing a prosperous future for the building, though no public funding had been requested.</p>
<p>The Arts School, completed in 1909 as a landmark of Art Nouveau design, has long attracted visitors and housed a renowned library as well as studios that helped launch the careers of notable artists and musicians.</p>
<p>Following a 2014 fire caused by an overhead projector and a 2018 blaze near completion of a restoration, insurance-related disputes surfaced after investigators found no conclusive cause, leading to a confidential arbitration resolved this spring.</p>
<p>In an update on construction costs, the school stated that factors such as inflation and market conditions make a faithful reconstruction impractical, and suggested that government funding might be possible only if the project is part of a broader regeneration effort in Glasgow.</p>
<p>Several former staff and experts urged another organization to take on the restoration, stressing the building’s influence on world architecture and the importance of a complete and well-documented reconstruction using appropriate materials.</p>
<p>Officials emphasized that any future rebuild would not be an exact replication but would need to meet contemporary fire safety and accessibility standards while preserving the landmark’s inspirational quality.</p>
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