Opening 2013

The Hydro

The Hydro is due to open in 2013 and will play host to national and international music mega stars as well as global entertainment and sporting events.

With a seating capacity of 12,000 The Hydro will augment the SECC’s existing facilities, and will play host to around 140 events every year. The Hydro will attract an audience of one million visitors each year, which positions it as the fifth busiest entertainment arena in the world, alongside iconic venues like Madison Square Gardens and The O2 arena. From its opening in 2013, The Hydro has the potential to inject an additional £131 million annually into the local economy.

 

Quick Facts

Built on the site of the former Queen’s Dock, The Hydro will be the only UK venue of its scale built specifically for concerts. It will be the largest entertainment venue in Scotland.

The Hydro has been designed to be flexible, accommodating a wide range of concerts, conferences and events. The seats and staging can be reconfigured to provide a capacity of 12,000 (everyone seated) or up to 13,000 (standing in performance bowl).

The unique façade of The Hydro, made up of pneumatic translucent cushions, has been made possible by using a special film originally developed for the space industry. This will allow natural light to illuminate the foyers during the day and the arena to ‘glow’ at night.

The Hydro has a 125 metre wide roof, with the diagonally latticed steelwork forming a shallow silver dome standing 45m at its highest.

The distinctive elliptical sloping shape of The Hydro was inspired by ancient Greek and Roman amphitheatres. This shape offers the optimum balance of viewing angle and distance from the stage.

The Architects

London-based Foster + Partners are the architects behind The Hydro.

With an international reputation, Foster and Partners are responsible for breathtaking buildings such as Hong Kong’s Chep Lap Kok Airport, and the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, as well as the Bilbao Metro and the SECC’s own iconic Clyde Auditorium or “Armadillo”.

Go to Foster + Partners

Foster + Partners is delighted to be working with SECC again, following the successful collaboration on the Clyde Auditorium. The Hydro Arena will be an exciting new landmark for a great city and a world-class performance venue for Scotland. Its design strengthens connections to the River Clyde and will be central to the Queen's Dock redevelopment - its series of new public spaces will bring the riverfront to life and open it up for all to enjoy.

The Vision

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CSR & the environment

The Hydro is aware of the potential impact that everything we do can have on the environment. We are committed to operating in an environmentally sustainable way wherever possible.

SEC Ltd and The Hydro recognise their responsibilities in promoting best practice among staff, clients, contractors and suppliers. We shall therefore collaborate with business partners as well as government agencies and industry affiliations to develop and adopt more environmentally friendly policies.