Today, the doors were flung open at The SSE Hydro for the very first time, to give the press a quick preview of the colossal interior of Glasgow’s brand new arena, a venue that is expected to take its place as one of the top five in the world.
And just to prove that this is first and foremost a music venue,
local group Admiral Fallow were first up on stage, with a few
minutes of acoustic performance, just to set the tone for this
entertainment hub and demonstrate the subtleties of the venue's
sound system in action in advance of Rod Stewart's big opening
performance approaching on Monday evening.
The journey to the opening night goes back to October 2005, when
Foster and Partners unveiled their futuristic design for this
prominent newcomer to the Glasgow skyline.
At Clyde Waterfront we've been monitoring the development of The
SSE Hydro and you can follow the build in our image gallery.
It's been exciting to see this key Scottish venue emerge on the
waterfront and to know that it is expected to contribute up to
£131 million of new revenue to the local economy every
year.
Key dates on the journey
July 2006: Full planning permission is
granted
Feb 2011: Lend Lease appointed to build the
auditorium and begin work
Jan 2012: The first precast concrete seating
terrace units are installed
June 2012: The Hydro's main central roof
section is lifted into place. The event is described as the most
complex engineering feat to be accomplished in Scotland in the
course of the year!
October 2012: The final roof bolt is put in
place at the traditional "topping out" ceremony by apprentice civil
engineer John McLaughlan.
November 2012: Opening acts are announced for
the first month to include JLS, Fleetwood Mac, Andrea Bocelli,
Micky Flanagan, Bruno Mars, The Proclaimers, MOBO Awards, Pater
Gabriel, Alter Bridge and more.
May 2013: Seat installation begins. Rod Stewart
announced as the opening act on 30 September 2013
June 2013: A fire breaks out in the roof of the
building, caused by welding work taking place in the roof
space.
September 2013: The building is completed by
Lend Lease and handed over to SEC Ltd.
Modelled on the ancient games arenas of the Greeks and Romans
the auditorium does not feel vast, but surprisingly intimate. Every
seat in the house has exceptional sightlines to the stage, so even
up in the gods, the experience is expected to be phenomenal.
Scottish Enterprise and The SSE Hydro
Scottish Enterprise has contributed £25m to the £125 million SSE
Hydro build, the largest grant contribution Scottish Enterprise has
ever awarded. For every £1 contributed it will generate £7 for the
Scottish economy. This financial contribution will also help to
create 1400 new jobs, as well as create opportunities for
Scotland's tourism sector to grow.
A host of opportunities
The SSE Hydro represents opportunities for Glasgow to grow its
reputation as a centre of entertainment and to bring a massive
boost to the local economy.
Speaking at the press launch, John Sharkey, Chief Executive of
SEC Ltd, said, "Glasgow already has a reputation for great
audiences. Now we a have a world class venue for our world class
audiences."
Visit
The SSE Hydro project page
Follow the
build in our image gallery
26 September 2013