Robbie Coltrane opens the Reid Building

The Cracker and Harry Potter actor Robbie Coltrane has opened the Glasgow School of Art's new Reid Building, with the former student describing it as "awesome".

Coltrane joined more than 2,000 staff and scholars to celebrate the official launch of the Reid Building which will house the GSA's design school, refectory, workshops and new visitor centre.

It marks the completion of the first phase of the renowned art school's campus redevelopment and 105 years since the construction of the original building by Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

The Reid Building was designed by Steven Holl Architects of New York and Glasgow's JM Architects. It is named after Dame Seona Reid, the first female director of the GSA who stepped down in 2013.

It was a fabulous occasion with some eccentric art school style activities. A specially created Rube Goldberg machine featured items such as helium filled balloons, unfurling banners, confetti and two mice. The GSA choir performed the world premiere of a new choral work, Making it New with music by Ken Johnston and words by Scottish poet and dramatist, Liz Lochhead, who studied painting at the GSA alongside Coltrane.

Robbie Coltrane, the Bafta award-winning actor said working at the Mackintosh building made him raise his game and he hoped the "glorious" new building would encourage a new generation of artists.

Coltrane said: "The two words 'honoured' and 'awesome' are over-used. However, on this occasion both expressions are absolutely perfect. You walk into this building and you are overcome by a sense of awe."

The Rutherglen born star said his own creative output was now almost exclusively limited to the screen. He said: "I don't do much drawing, my painting you'd be embarrassed to see, but I do make movies and I've written a few books."

More activity from the opening ceremony can be seen on Blifolio.