Three years ago the fire in the Macintosh Building of Glasgow School of Art was watched with horror in Scotland and around the world but a full restoration quickly commenced with completion scheduled for 2018. This project is being coordinated by Ms Elizabeth Davidson who will describe the work at the Society’s November meeting
Since graduating from Edinburgh College of Art with specialisation in Architectural Conservation, Elizabeth has been involved in most aspects of Scotland’s built heritage. As head of Heritage and Design at Glasgow City Council, she was responsible for maintaining the highest standards of historic building repair and maintenance whilst also encouraging the best and most inspirational designs in new development. Previous to this she led the Heritage Lottery funded Townscape Heritage programme to regenerate the Merchant City.
Earlier posts included that of director of Glasgow Building Preservation Trust, a charitable property developer rescuing and bringing back to life numerous historic buildings including St Andrew’s Square Church, the Tobacco Merchants House, Wellpark Enterprise Centre and the iconic blue ‘Tardis’ police boxes. Whilst at the Trust, she also pioneered Doors Open Day which introduced the UK’s first free mass architectural participation event, providing access to significant modern and historic buildings and to interiors which had rarely before been glimpsed.
In 2010 Elizabeth was rewarded an OBE for services to conservation and the built heritage in Scotland.
