Petition to save Wolverhampton School of Art breaks 3,500 barrier
A petition to save one of Wolverhampton's most familiar landmarks from the bulldozers has passed the 3,500 mark in its first five days.
Last week the Express & Star revealed Wolverhampton University's plans to demolish its School of Art, a Brutalist nine-storey building which has dominated the skyline for 55 years.
It will be lost as part of a plan to streamline the university's estates, which are at the moment 30 per cent over capacity.
As well as knocking down the School of Art, with its distinctive concrete 'exoskeleton', the university also plans to close the sports centre, which will become a new medical school, and to close its Telford campus next year.
More than 3,500 people - including one from Australia - have signed the online petition calling for the building to be saved.
Jayne Biddle, from Wolverhampton, said: "It's a beautiful architectural gem, part of Wolverhampton's heritage and skyline.
"Why demolish a perfectly sound building? Probably flatten it and ground stand empty for years like rest of Wolves."
Fellow Wulfrunian Daran Crook said: "This building is of critical artistic and cultural importance and there are no plans to replace it with anything of worthwhile consideration.
"Wolverhampton has already lost identity, why make things even worse?"
Sarah Leigh from Birmingham said: " As an iconic piece of Wolverhampton architecture it would be a great shame to lose such a building, especially to be replaced with something no-doubt bland and uninspiring.
"The School of Art has seen so much talent pass through its doors, and I’m not alone in having loved my time in such a unique, light filled building with such character. Cherish it for the fabulous example of brutalist design that it is.
Another ex-student George Saxon, from Wallingford in Oxfordshire, said the building was 'special and unique in the Wolverhampton cityscape'.
He added: "I studied there alongside the likes of artists like Cornelia Parker, I was taught by some of the most amazing lecturers and have the fondest memories of being there. What is the purpose of demolishing this amazing piece of architecture?"
Tim Barclay from Hove said: "I think this building is an iconic design, and is part of the cultural heritage of Wolverhampton, much of which has been destroyed by development and cheap sheds of consumer products and car parks.
"So many wonderful artists and people have worked in the building and it features in many artists lives and work."
Plans to demolish the building are also being opposed by the Twentieth Century Society, which has applied to Historic England for the building to be given listed status.
Historic England said it was assessing the application.
