The SSE Hydro
The SSE Hydro is a new entertainment destination within Glasgows former docks and Scotlands largest purpose-built arena. The 12,500-capacity arena creates an exciting experience for visitors the design helps to build a sense of anticipation before the event, while the interior layout ensures that every seat has an excellent view of the stage.
A highly flexible indoor venue, the SSE Hydro Arena provides a combination of fixed, retractable and removable seating to enable a wide range of staging and concert layouts and sporting events. The buildings form is generated by the seating, which wraps around the stage and rises toward the front, optimising the viewing angle and drawing the audience closer to the performance. The roof canopy follows this distinctive angled profile to reveal a 40-metre-high elevation to the south spanning 120 metres in a dome of latticed steelwork. The upper part of the building is clad in translucent material, onto which projected patterns and images make the building glow like a beacon at night.
The Hydro joins the Clyde Auditorium on the northern edge of the River Clyde to create a new entertainment destination within the redevelopment of Glasgows former docks. The scale is unique the SSE Hydro is Scotlands largest purpose-built arena and its steel diagrid roof is one of Europes largest free-spanning roof structures. The roof weighs 1,400 tonnes, stretches 120 metres across the building and rises to a height of 40 metres large enough to encompass Glasgows Queen Street railway station.
The buildings form is generated from the inside-out by the seating, which wraps around the stage above ground level and rises toward the front, optimising the viewing angle and drawing the audience closer to the excitement of the performance. The roof canopy follows this distinctive angled profile, rising away from the busy main road to the rear to reveal a dramatic 40-metre-high elevation to the south. The facades are clad in translucent ETFE panels, onto which patterns and images can be projected. These can be illuminated to make the building glow like a beacon for the new quarter at night. The main entrance is to the south of the arena, via a generous top-lit lobby. A second, fully glazed high-level atrium gives visitors panoramic views of the waterfront and leads to further facilities, including a dedicated VIP floor with boxes and club seats. The practice designed every detail, from the signage to the cushioned arena seats, which were developed specifically for the project with the manufacturer. The bold primary colour palette of the circulation spaces was devised in collaboration with graphic designer, Per Arnoldi.
Designed to reduce energy demands, the scheme combines natural and mechanical ventilation fresh air is drawn into the building above the entrances, and vented at a high level. The SSE Hydro is integrated with the district-wide public transport and the surrounding landscaping provides a valuable new civic amenity the building is set back from the river, opening up the waters edge and framing a new public space between the arena and conference centre. In addition, a low concrete bank curves around the base of the arena, concealing catering and support spaces and providing an attractive green, landscaped plinth.
The building combines natural and mechanical ventilation to reduce its energy demands fresh air is drawn into the building above the entrances, and vented at a high level. Equally important is the buildings integration with the surrounding area and Glasgows public transport system, encouraging crowds to take the bus or train rather than drive, thus reducing emissions and congestion.