A BLUEPRINT for turning A-listed Langside Halls into a sustainable cultural venue is to be drawn up.
Langside Halls Trust has appointed award-winning Glasgow-based practice Hoskins Architects and culture and heritage management consultancy, Jura Consultants to undertake a 20 week feasibility study.
The aim is to produce a viable business plan and costed design and conservation proposal to enable the trust to seek the capital funding necessary to refurbish the halls and realise its vision.
Kevin Kane, chair of Langside Halls Trust said: “Our aspiration is to breathe new life into Langside Halls by creating a financially and environmentally sustainable future for the Halls.
“We want to expand the Southside’s current cultural and leisure offer and, working with our consortium partners –- Glad Café, Southside Festival and Southside Film — and others, our ambition is to create a regular cultural and social programme at the halls, use them as a platform for existing and new organisations in the Southside and continue their traditional role as an affordable community-venue-for-hire.”
The study has been made possible by funding from Glasgow City Council Area Partnerships (Southside Central, Langside and Pollokshields), Glasgow City Heritage Trust and Architectural Heritage Fund Scotland.
Melanie Hay, of Hoskins Architects said: “We are delighted to be working with the trust to develop their vision for the future of Langside Halls. Our study will focus on improving circulation and accessibility for all, identifying key building fabric improvements and assessing the functionality of the existing spaces to develop a sustainable plan.
“With Jura Consultants, our aim is to develop a robust strategy that ensures the longevity of this exceptional building as a vital asset for the local community and a hub for cultural events in Glasgow.”
There will be public consultation around a range of options, with community organisations and individuals able to give their input to help identify a final, worked-up and costed proposal.
Consultation is likely to take place online, and will be announced via the trust’s website at www.langsidehalls.com.
The study will be used to launch a capital fundraising strategy in 2021
Langside Halls is owned by Glasgow City Council and operated on its behalf by Glasgow Life. The building closed in April 2017 following failure of the boiler although Glasgow City Council has invested more than £300,000 to install a new boiler, remove local asbestos and make essential wind and watertight repairs.
