Kelvin Hall Redevelopment - Briefing Paper for local Elected Members

With the move of the former Transport Museum to the and the opening of the Emirates Arena, the now provides a major opportunity to deliver a world-class cultural facility alongside a significantly improved Club for the people of the West End.

Any development will be delivered in phases, subject to funding being agreed by both partners and the Heritage Lottery Fund. Such a partnership approach will bring significant benefits not only in reducing costs, but sharing expertise and improving services on offer to the public. A detailed planning application will shortly be considered by .

Phase 1 Glasgow Life and the are considering redeveloping the Kelvin Hall to create a forum for knowledge, ideas and creativity based on Glasgow’s museum heritage. The development will create an outstanding new cultural hub – a place where the public, heritage professionals, academics and the creative sector can meet and contribute together including:

• Co-location of the collections from the University and City of Glasgow, together with those of the Scottish Screen Archive in a single venue, building on the existing collaborations between Glasgow Life, the University of Glasgow and the National Library of . • A new, accessible museum store for Glasgow Museums and a publically accessible exhibition space suitable for the conservation of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Tearoom . • The Hunterian will create a Collections Study Centre for object-based research, teaching and learning. The partners will establish a Centre for Cultural and Heritage Skills, a national hub for in-service training, CPD and knowledge exchange. • Creation of an orientation space and community learning base, building on 20 years of best practise in museums outreach to expand community engagement across Glasgow Life and our partners. • The development of a significant new Glasgow Club facility including gym, dance studios, sports halls and spa to meet local community needs.

Phase 2 Options for a second phase for the project remain subject to agreement between the partners, but the aspiration remains for the Hunterian Museum to move to Kelvin Hall and further options for Glasgow Museums, with new gallery and exhibition space to create a significant additional attraction within the heart of what will become Glasgow’s Cultural Quarter. Key Stages of the Project • Planning application - alterations and extension to the existing venue including creation of a new venue entrance. June 2013 • University of Glasgow – Estates / Finance Committee considers HLF Round 2 application – 3 June 2013 • National Library of Scotland considers HLF Round 2 application – 24 June 2013 • Glasgow City Council Executive Committee consideration for HLF Round 2 application – June 2013 • Stage 2 funding application – Heritage Lottery Fund – June 2013 • Closure of Kelvin Hall to the public July 2013 to allow surveys and an advance work package. • Decision on Stage 2 funding September 2013 • Enabling works August 2013-February 2014 • Start on site February 2014 (Main Contract) • Commonwealth Games 2014 - Uniform and Accreditation Centre/Glasgow Sport temporary sports centre - February 2014 to August/September 2014 • Temporary sports provision February 2014 until opening of new facility • Re-opening February 2016

A communication plan has been agreed which will keep Elected Members, existing Glasgow Club customers and local communities and stakeholders fully informed of the exciting developments.

Below is a short history of the Kelvin Hall, which reflects the significant changes the building has witnessed over the last 85 years.

If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact Alex Maclean on 0141 287 5084.

A Short History of the Kelvin Hall Kelvin Hall was built 1926-27 to house large-scale exhibitions. It was designed by the Scottish Architect Thomas Gilchrist Gilmour, working at the Glasgow Office of Public Works Architectural Department (later Glasgow Corporation City Engineer’s Department). Thomas P. M. Somers, Glasgow Master of Works and Engineer, (1925-41) over saw the works, and later additions 1931 and 1938.

Thomas Gilmour had previously designed other civic buildings in Glasgow such as Calder Street Public Baths and Washhouses 1914, Couper Institute and Library 1915 and Shettleston Baths and Washhouses 1924, to name a few. Somers had also worked on a number of significant projects in Glasgow prior to Kelvin Hall such as Whiteinch and Partick Libraries, and the King George V Bridge.

Gilmour’s Kelvin Hall was built to replace the temporary wooden structure of the previous Kelvin Hall that stood on the same site. The original opened 1901 for the Glasgow International Exhibition at Kelvingrove Park, but burnt down in 1925. Somers worked with Westminster based Considere Constructions Ltd for the design of the hall space and roof of the new Kelvin Hall that, once complete, was their largest concrete span to date.

Over its lifetime the Kelvin Hall has had a range of different functions for which its cavernous volume has been adapted. Following its opening in 1927 it performed as a large scale exhibition space for national and international exhibitions such as the Glasgow Civic and Empire Exhibition 1931, Century of Progress Exhibition 1935, Festival of Britain 1951 and Scottish Industries Exhibition 1959. It also housed many Scottish Motor Shows, Modern Homes Exhibitions, boxing matches and annual Ranger F.C Supporters Rallies. During world war two it became the UK’s chief factory for the production of barrage and convoy balloons, with approximately 850 men working under its roof.

In the 1960s it was adapted to incorporate a concert hall which became the location for performances from some of music’s big names at that time, perhaps most notably the Kinks, who in 1967 recorded their album “Live at Kelvin Hall”. It was also home to the annual Kelvin Hall Christmas Carnival and Circus for 60 years between 1924-1984.

In 1985, with the opening of the SECC, Kelvin Hall became out-dated. As a result the period 1984-1988 saw it undergo redevelopment that converted it to the International Sports Arena and second home for Glasgow’s Transport Museum, up until 2010.

In 1990 the Kelvin Hall was host to the biennial European Athletics Indoor Championships and has been the venue for the Aviva International Athletics Championships over a number of years. Following a move from the Braehead Arena location, the Kelvin Hall has also been home to the Glasgow Rocks team from 2008-12, who compete in the British Basketball league. The completion of the new Transport Museum and Emirates Arena has created the opportunity to look at the building again and contribute to the regeneration of this important area of Glasgow.

Timeline: • Built 1926-27 • Glasgow Civic and Empire Exhibition 1931 • Storehouse addition to Bunhouse Road by Somers 1931 • Century of Progress Exhibition 1935 • Curved engine house and store block added to Bunhouse road by Somers 1938 • Used as the UKs principal factory for the production of barrage and convoy balloons during WW2 • Festival of Britain, Exhibition of Industrial Power 1951 • Scottish Industries Exhibition 1959 • Adaptations to include a concert hall 1960s • The kinks record their live album at Kelvin Hall 1967 • Grey brick portion added to Blantyre Street elevation 1970s • Old Dumbarton Road elevation altered with additions 1970s • Jim Watt’s famous lightweight title-fight in 1979 • Housed the annual Christmas Carnival and Circus 1924-84 • Converted to Transport Museum and sports complex 1984-88 • European Athletics Indoor Championships 1990 • Receives B Listed status July 2001 • Glasgow Rocks make Kelvin Hall their home 2008 • Aviva International Athletics Championships 2009 • Museum of Transport closes at the Kelvin Hall April 2010 before reopening at its new location at the Riverside Museum