The Lighthouse in Glasgow, is Scotland's Centre for Architecture, Design and the City. It was opened as part of Glasgow's status as UK City of Architecture and Design in 1999.
The Lighthouse is the renamed, conversion of the former offices of the Glasgow Herald newspaper. Completed in 1895, it was designed by the architect John Keppie, of whom Charles Rennie Mackintosh was an apprentice. It is often mistakenly attributed to Mackintosh.[1] The centre's vision is to develop the links between design, architecture, and the creative industries, seeing these as interconnected social, educational, economic and cultural issues of concern to everyone.
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The Lighthouse Trust went into Administration in August 2009. At its peak the Lighthouse Trust had around 90 staff. Its Directors moved on: Nick Barley (now Director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival). Following a substantial redundancy programme the remaining staff were transferred to Architecture and Design Scotland (A+DS) and Glasgow City Council (GCC). The Lighthouse building remains in the ownership of Glasgow City Council, who has made financial provison to meet the costs of operating the Centre, and re-establishing it as Scotland's National Centre for Architecture and Design.
A Steering Group - made up of representatives of Glasgow City Council, Glasgow School Of Art, Scottish Enterprise, Creative Scotland, and various independent architects and designers - is now preparing proposals for a range of permanent and temporary uses within the building including a conference/events programme, catering facilities, temporary and permanent exhibitions, a limited amount of business space, and a possible architectural bookshop. Architecture and Design Scotland (A+DS) now occupy one of five floors of the building and continue to run a range of programmes on that floor. The remaining staff have recently been awarded extended contracts of employment with GCC.
In November 2010 an award was made against the Lighthouse Trust (In Administration) by an Employment Tribunal for its Discrimination and Unfair dismissal of a former Disabled Gay member of staff. Gay Rights groups have expressed concern and asked members of the public to be aware of the Lighthouse' history as regards Gay and Disablility rights.
Free access to one of the stunning features of The Lighthouse is the uninterrupted view over Glasgow's cityscape from the Mackintosh Tower at the north of the building, which is accessible via a helical staircase from the third floor.
There is also another modern viewing platform at the south of the building, which forms the buildings sixth floor and is only accessible via lift.
In 1999, the Clydesdale Bank issued a £20 note to mark Glasgow's celebrations as UK City of Architecture and Design which featured an illustration of the Lighthouse building and the dome of Thomson's Holmwood House on the reverse. The obverse side carried a portrait of Glaswegian architect Alexander "Greek" Thomson.[2]
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