Glasgow School of Art's Mackintosh Building Gutted by Second Fire

A second devastating fire in four years has destroyed the Glasgow School of Art's Mackintosh Building, raising serious doubts about its future. The blaze began on the evening of June 16, just months before the building was set to reopen after extensive restoration following a 2014 fire. Structural damage is far more extensive this time, with experts questioning whether the building can be safely restored. Anger erupted in Glasgow upon learning that sprinklers had not been installed. A detailed digital map created after the first fire offers some hope for reconstruction, but costs are estimated to exceed £100 million. Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon called the fire 'heartbreaking' and pledged government support for the building's future. Designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and completed in 1909, the building is Glasgow's most celebrated architectural landmark.