A 330-tonne central roof section has been put into place at Glasgow's new entertainment arena, following a 5-day operation at The Hydro.
Over the five days the steel section was lifted up a
48-metre-high temporary tower by eight hydraulic jacks at a maximum
rate of five metres an hour. On Friday it reached the top and was
fixed in place.
Described as the most complex engineering feat in Scotland this
year, this weeks achievement marks a major step forward in the
major building project which will create Scotland's largest purpose
build entertainments venue, which will seat 12,000 people.
"The next step involves the positioning of 16 roof segments
between the perimeter of the building and the central section.
These 36-metre-long segments have been assembled in the SECC car
park over recent weeks and are now ready to be put in place. Once
they are in place the temporary tower can be removed and the roof
will then support its own weight."
The new national arena, at Pacific Quay beside the River Clyde, is
due to open in 2013 but construction is already well under way. The
building is modelled on Greco-Roman amphitheatres and aims to rival
New York's Madison Square Gardens and London's O2 Arena for
spectacle and international renown.
The 45m-high Hydro is the designed byof architects Foster and
Partners, best known for designing the Clyde Auditorium.
Follow progress
of The Hydro in our image gallery.
Eat This Book, Hodder, 2006 pg 34