Today, the Glasgow School of Art unveiled a full-size prototype of a section of the Mackintosh Library bay that is based on the original 1910 design, marking another step forward for the building's restoration after the devastating 2014 fire. Following two years of meticulous research and six months in the making, the prototype was presented in the workshops of specialist carpenters Laurence McIntosh and has been used for multiple design tests. 

“For those of you who remember the library as it was in 2014 the biggest change you will notice is the color. This is how we believe is how the library would have looked in 1910,” said Professor Tom Inns, Director of The Glasgow School of Art, in a statement. Columns and shelves that survived the fire revealed that much of the library was constructed with American Tulip wood, he added. The Tulipwood for the Library is currently being sourced in the U.S. and will then be manufactured at Laurence McIntosh. On-site installation is expected to begin in spring 2018.

During the unveiling of the prototype, Natalia Burakowska — an architectural heritage and conservation expert at Page\Park architects who has been involved in researching the Library's heritage — said that the charred timbers revealed a lot of crucial information about the Library's original design. “We were excited to learn about timber joints, nailing techniques, timber sizes, and clever assembly strategies adopted by craftsmen working on site,” she said.

Restoration is progressing well, according to Gordon Reid, a regional business development manager for Kier Construction Scotland. The new roof is complete, the loggia have been restored, and reconstruction of the iconic Hen Run is under way, he said.