Steven Holl Architects

Seona Reid Building

Seona Reid Building

Steven Holl Architects

Seona Reid Building
© Iwan Baan

ARCHITECTS
Steven Holl Architects

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
Michael Van Valkenburgh and Associates

YEAR
2014

QUANTITY SURVEYOR
Turner & Townsend CDM

COMPETITION TEAM
Peter Adams, Rychiee Espinosa

AREA
11250.0 m²

PHOTOGRAPHS
Iwan Baan , Chris McVoy

COMPETITION PROJECT ARCHITECT
Dominik Sigg

COORDINATOR
Cyril Sweett

ENGINEERING
Ove Arup & Partners Breeam

DESGIGN ARCHTECTS
Steven Holl, Chris McVoy

PROJECT MANAGER
Turner & Townsend

ASSESSOR
Ove Arup & Partners

GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Sir Robert McAlpine

CATEGORY
Educational Architecture

PLANNING
Turley Associates

LOCATION
Glasgow, United Kingdom

ASSOCIATE ARCHITECTS
JM Architects

PROJECT TEAM
Rychiee Espinosa, Scott Fredricks, JongSeo Lee, Jackie Luk, Fiorenza Matteoni, Dimitra Tsachrelia, Ebbie Wisecarver

Seona Reid Building
© Iwan Baan

Text description provided by architect.

The Seona Reid Building is in complementary contrast to Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s 1909 Glasgow School of Art – forging a symbiotic relation in which each structure heightens the integral qualities of the other.

A thin translucent materiality in considered contrast to the masonry of the Mackintosh building – volumes of light which express the school’s activity in the urban fabric embodying a forward-looking life for the arts.

Seona Reid Building
© Iwan Baan
Seona Reid Building
© Iwan Baan

This project’s unique interior and exterior forces on the design are the catalysts for creating a new 21st century model for the art school.

Working simultaneously from the inside out - engaging the functional needs and psychological desires of the program - and the outside in - making connections to the city campus and relating to the Mackintosh building opposite - the design embodies the school’s aspirations in the city’s fabric.

Seona Reid Building
© Iwan Baan
Seona Reid Building
© Iwan Baan
Seona Reid Building
© Chris McVoy

Mackintosh’s amazing manipulation of the building section for light in inventive ways has inspired our approach towards a plan of volumes in different light. The studio/workshop is the basic building block of the building.

Spaces have been located not only to reflect their interdependent relationships but also their varying needs for natural light. Studios are positioned on the north façade with large inclined north facing glazing to maximize access to the desirable high quality diffuse north light.

Spaces that do not have a requirement for the same quality of natural light, such as the refectory and offices, are located on the South façade where access to sunlight can be balanced with the occupants needs and the thermal performance of the space through application of shading.

Seona Reid Building
© Iwan Baan
Seona Reid Building
© Iwan Baan
Seona Reid Building
© Iwan Baan

“Driven voids of light” allow for the integration of structure, spatial modulation and light. The “Driven Void” light shafts deliver natural light through the depth of the building providing direct connectivity with the outside world through the changing intensity and color of the sky. In addition, they provide vertical circulation through the building, eliminating the need for air conditioning.

Along the South elevation, at the same height as the Mackintosh main studios, a landscape loggia in the form of a Machair gives the school an exterior social core open to the city.

Seona Reid Building
© Iwan Baan
Seona Reid Building
© Iwan Baan

The natural vegetation with some stone work routes the water into a small recycling water pond which will reflect dappled sunlight onto the ceiling inside.

A ‘Circuit of Connection’ throughout the new GSA encourages the ‘creative abrasion’ across and between departments that is central to the workings of the school.

Seona Reid Building
© Iwan Baan
Seona Reid Building
© Iwan Baan

The open circuit of stepped ramps links all major spaces – lobby, exhibition space, project spaces, lecture theater, seminar rooms, studios, workshops and green terraces for informal gatherings and exhibitions.


Seona Reid Building
East Elevation
Seona Reid Building
West Elevation


Seona Reid Building
Section AA
Seona Reid Building
Section BB
Seona Reid Building
Section CC
Seona Reid Building
Section EE


Seona Reid Building
Basement Floor Plan
Seona Reid Building
Ground Floor Plan
Seona Reid Building
First Floor Plan
Seona Reid Building
Second Floor Plan
Seona Reid Building
Third Floor Plan
Seona Reid Building
Fourth Floor Plan
Seona Reid Building
Seona Reid Building
Site Plan


Seona Reid Building
Diagram 1
Seona Reid Building
Diagram 2
Seona Reid Building
Diagram 3
Seona Reid Building
Diagram 4
Seona Reid Building
Diagram 5


Seona Reid Building
Drawing 1
Seona Reid Building
Drawing 3
Seona Reid Building
© Iwan Baan
Seona Reid Building
Drawing 4
Seona Reid Building
Drawing 5
Seona Reid Building
Drawing 6
Seona Reid Building
Drawing 8
Seona Reid Building
Drawing 9
Seona Reid Building
Drawing 2


Seona Reid Building
Model 1
Seona Reid Building
Model 2
Seona Reid Building
Model 3

Steven Holl Architects
T +1 212 6297262 F +1 212 6297312
Steven Holl Architects
450 W 31st St 11th floor, New York, NY 10001, United States