The SSE Hydro

The SSE Hydro
The Hydro
Former names Scottish National Arena (planning)
Scottish Hydro Arena (construction)
Location Exhibition Way
Finnieston, Glasgow
G3 8YW
Scotland
Coordinates 55°51′37″N 4°17′06″W / 55.860297°N 4.284926°WCoordinates: 55°51′37″N 4°17′06″W / 55.860297°N 4.284926°W
Owner SEC Ltd
Operator SEC Ltd
Executive suites 11
Capacity 13,000
Field size 125 m wide, 41 m high
Construction
Opened 30 September 2013
Construction cost £125 million
Architect Foster and Partners
Project manager Turner & Townsend
Structural engineer Arup Group Limited
Services engineer Arup Group Limited
General contractor Lend Lease
Website
www.thessehydro.com
The Hydro under construction
Translucent cushions being installed, July 2013.

The SSE Hydro is an arena located in Glasgow, Scotland, on the site of the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC). The arena has a capacity of 13,000. The arena officially opened on 30 September 2013, with a concert by Rod Stewart. It was designed by the London-based architects Foster + Partners and named after SSE plc. The SSE Hydro hosts international musical stars, global entertainment and sporting events, with an aim to attract one million visitors each year.

Background

SEC Ltd. identified the need for a new arena: a level area surrounded by seats, in which sports and other public events could be held. Previously, such events were held in Glasgow Hall 4, in the SECC main building. However, the venue's audience capacity is limited, seating just over 10,000. Therefore, it is unable to accommodate the high attendance typically associated with large-scale performance events, such as rock concerts and children’s shows. The new Hydro arena (designed by Foster + Partners and Arup Scotland) is located with the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre and the Clyde Auditorium. [1]

Fire during construction

At approximately 3:20 pm on 8 June 2013,[2] flames were reported to be coming from the domed roof of the partially completed building.[3] Forty fire fighters from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service attended the blaze.[4] It was determined that the fire was caused by ongoing welding work on the building's roof.[5][6] On 18 June, the venue's operator revealed that despite additional challenges, work on the venue was still on track.[7]

Events

Some of the notable acts to have played The SSE Hydro:

References

  1. ↑ "Timeline - The SSE Hydro". thessehydro.com. June 2014. Retrieved July 2014.
  2. ↑ "Fire hits city's £125m Hydro venue". paisleydailyexpress.co.uk. Paisley Daily Express. 8 June 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  3. ↑ "Glasgow Hydro fire: Crews tackle blaze in domed roof". bbc.co.uk. BBC News. 8 June 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  4. ↑ "Firefighters tackle blaze at Hydro concert venue on the River Clyde". news.stv.tv. STV. 8 June 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  5. ↑ "Welder's torch blamed for starting huge fire at Glasgow's new £125m Hydro arena". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 9 June 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  6. ↑ "Glasgow Hydro fire: Blaze caused by welding sparks". bbc.co.uk. BBC News. 10 June 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  7. ↑ "Glasgow Hydro venue construction ‘remains on target’ despite fire". thecourier.co.uk. The Courier. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  8. ↑ "Glasgow to Host the 2014 MTV EMA - MTV EMA 2013". uk.mtvema.com. 9 November 2013.
  9. ↑ Taylor, Marianne; Fraser, Graham; Sayers, Louise; Currie, Martin (11 September 2014). "Referendum Live - as it happened". BBC News (Scotland), n.d. (BBC). Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  10. ↑ "Scottish independence: Plans announced for Scotland's 'biggest ever debate'". BBC News. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  11. ↑ "BBC Sports Personality 2014: Shortlisted named for award". BBC. BBC. Retrieved 14 December 2014.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Hydro.