The University of Sunderland has defended its decision to demolish a troubled 27-year-old glass making hub despite uproar from locals, campaigners and politicians over the projected cost of repairing it.
The 5,000 square metre National Glass Centre, which is used by the university for glass and ceramics academic programmes, was completed on the bank of the River Wear in 1998 by Kvaerner Construction, shortly before the contractor was acquired by Swedish construction giant Skanska.
It was opened by Prince Charles, now King Charles III, and featured an accessible glass roof as well as both internal and external glass walls.
In 2010, the University of Sunderland took over management of the centre, which attracts more than 200,000 people a year, and told Construction News it was now planning to demolish it due to a number of issues with the building. It said remediating the building would cost £45m.
The institution said it had been forced to carry out a series of works to address structural issues with the centre.
“Following continuing – and increasing – concerns about the future sustainability of the building, the university commissioned a full building survey in 2022. External specialists concluded that a multimillion-pound investment would be required to address the remedial issues,” a spokesman for the university said.
He said the report included risk, VAT and other allowances for a project of this scale.
“The total cost of all the recommended remedial work was, based on independent advice, a minimum £14m, and more likely nearer £45m,” he added.
“None of the options outlined in the building survey report were affordable given that the bulk of the university’s income comes from student tuition fees and is spent on its core priority activities of learning, teaching, research, innovation and knowledge exchange.”
The university said since the planned closure was announced in 2023, no individual or organisation had come forward to offer any financial support towards refurbishing the building. The NGC will close on 31 July 2026.
In June, councillor for the Fulwell ward Michael Hartnack moved a motion expressing “concern regarding the accuracy of the cost estimates so far presented” for the repair programme.
This led to the council ordering a report to examine the ownership of the Glass Centre, if it could continue to exist in another form and the cost of relocating equipment.
Sunderland City Council said: “We are continuing to work with city and national partners on the future of glassmaking in Sunderland.”
The 2022 report by GSS Architecture into the building outlined “ongoing maintenance issues” and “significant corrosion to external steelwork”.
“One of the main issues with the existing building highlighted by the staff at the Glass Centre is the permeability of the glazed roof,” the report said.
“When there is heavy rainfall, water tracks through the frame of the glazing and into the building… this issue is due to the incorrect specification of the original curtain walling system, which is traditionally used for glazed walls not roofs.”
In January 2023, the university announced plans to close the National Glass Centre in 2026, sparking a campaign that has seen more than 35,000 people sign a petition to save it.
“We believe that it is one of the few nationally important buildings in the city that draws in visitors from across the region and beyond,” the petition on Change.org said.
“It is vital to the vibrancy of the city and adds significantly to the lives of local people, businesses, and students in the area.
“Keeping alive the 1,350-year-old tradition of glass making is vital to the city’s heritage, culture and identity.”
Campaigners have questioned the £45m cost quoted, which is based on a 2022 report by Identity Consult that looked at several options for working on the structure.
This includes more than £2.5m design and construction risk allowance on the most expensive option (excluding extension work).