Aprirà a settembre “The Hydro”, la nuova arena di Glasgow

 
Created by world-renowned architects Foster and Partners, who also designed the SECC’s Clyde Auditorium, Scotland’s new national arena will hold 12,000 fully seated and will be the largest entertainments venue in Scotland. To be known as The Hydro, the SECC national arena is the only one of its scale in the UK built specifically for concerts, conferences and events. Once complete The Hydro will become a new landmark on Glasgow’s skyline.  Modelled on Greek and Roman amphitheatres, the 45m tall building, with its distinctive silver dome, will stand higher than the neighbouring Armadillo. Translucent materials used in the facade will cause the building to appear to glow at night. Like the Clyde Auditorium, The Hydro has been designed from the inside out. Visitors will enjoy outstanding viewing angles from each of the 12,000 seats in the fixed, tiered and demountable seating system and the acoustics will be of the highest standard. There will be a wide range of food and drink outlets as well as a club seating area and  VIP boxes, each capable of accommodating 12 people. There will also be restaurants, bars and sponsors lounges.
Scottish Enterprise will contribute £25m to the project.  The QD2 masterplan will enhance and transform the 64-acre site into a complete exhibition, conference and entertainments complex of significant national scale and make the SECC a world-class venue.  The new facilities will enhance Glasgow and Scotland’s tourism offer, specifically business tourism, and the arena will play an integral role in the 2014 Commonwealth Games as the home for both gymnastics and the netball finals at the games.

The Hydro is one of the first major developments to be undertaken in the SECC’s QD2 master plan which has the potential to inject an additional £131 million per annum into the local economy and create 2,449 jobs. The current economic impact of the SECC is £347million per annum with 1.5 million visitors a year. The 12,000-seat arena will be the largest entertainments venue in Scotland and the only one of its scale in the UK built specifically for concerts and events. The Hydro will play host to around 140 events each year, including national and international artists and bands as well as being a venue for major comedy stars and sporting events. The arena has the potential to inject an additional £131 million into the local economy.
The Hydro will be in the top five busiest indoor entertainment arenas in the world alongside such iconic venues as Madison Square Gardens in New York and The O2 in London.Scottish Hydro has committed to invest £1.5 million per year over the next 10 years. The Scottish company, which has been supplying energy to the nation’s homes and businesses since 1947, is proud to be investing in Scotland’s cultural heritage and will in turn provide a high profile association with live entertainment, bringing real benefits for customers.
Work is underway on the site. In September 2010 SECC announced that AEG Facilities have been appointed to create an event programme for the new venue in advance of it opening in 2013. Lend Lease were appointed to build the auditorium and began  work in February 2011. Considered one of the UK’s leading project management and construction companies, Lend Lease, who previously worked on the SECC and the Clyde Auditorium, fought off stiff competition during a formal tender process. Contracts 1 and 2 are fully complete (comprising Roads & Utilities and Piling & Substructure).  The contractor for the superstructure (Lend Lease) has made good progress on site with tower cranes erected, construction of a number of fin walls, structural columns/steelwork and decking nearing completion.   Construction of the roof elements is beginning with 16 roof segments to be connected to a central “doughnut” by end summer 2012. The first precast concrete seating terrace units were installed in January 2012, with the first seats to be installed by the end of the year. In May 2012 the centre roof section was lowered into place in a massive 5-day engineering operation.
In November, the temporary supporting tower was successfully removed, leaving the huge domed roof self-supporting.
Now the first two ceiling layers are being put in and the house lights are being fitted.
A giant three-tiered steel rig is being constructed in the centre of the arena, from which all the lighting and the speakers will be hung when the Hydro opens.
In November, the temporary supporting tower was successfully removed, leaving the huge domed roof self-supporting.
Early in 2013 the first two ceiling layers are being put in and the house lights are being fitted.
A giant three-tiered steel rig is being constructed in the centre of the arena, from which all the lighting and the speakers will be hung when the Hydro opens. Started on site Feb 2011. The venue is due to open on 2 September 2013.
Cost: £125 million (Arena & supporting infrastructure)
 
Source : Clyde Waterfront