The SEC Armadillo (originally known as the Clyde Auditorium) is an auditorium located near the

River Clyde The River Clyde ( gd, Abhainn Chluaidh, , sco, Clyde Watter, or ) is a river that flows into the Firth of Clyde in Scotland. It is the ninth-longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third-longest in Scotland. It runs through the major cit ...

, in Glasgow, Scotland. It is one of three venues on the Scottish Event Campus, which includes the SEC Centre and the OVO Hydro.SEC Armadillo
''www.whatsonglasgow.co.uk''. Retrieved 14 October 2021.

History

Plans for a new building to increase the capacity of the SECC complex were initiated in 1994. Designed by architects Foster and Partners, construction of the 3,000 seat venue started in September 1995, and was completed in August 1997, by which time it had earned its affectionate nickname, due to the similarity of its shape to that of the animal of the same name. Many comparisons have been made with the

Sydney Opera House The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in Sydney. Located on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour, it is widely regarded as one of the world's most famous and distinctive buildings and a masterpiece of 20th-century architec ...

, although this was not the architects' inspiration for the design, which was in fact an interlocking series of ship's hulls, in reference to the Clyde's shipbuilding heritage. The building has become one of the most recognisable on Clydeside and an iconic image of Glasgow. It is connected by passageways to the SEC Centre, and the Crowne Plaza hotel for easy access and exit for performers.

Events

The building has held events, such as the Scottish auditions of '' Britain's Got Talent''

2008 File:2008 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Lehman Brothers went bankrupt following the Subprime mortgage crisis; Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 in Myanmar; A scene from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; ...

2010 File:2010 Events Collage New.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2010 Chile earthquake was one of the strongest recorded in history; The Eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland disrupts air travel in Europe; A scene from the opening ceremony of ...

, the auditions for the first four editions of '' The X Factor'' and the

Hugo Award The Hugo Award is an annual literary award for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year, given at the World Science Fiction Convention and chosen by its members. The Hugo is widely considered the premier a ...

ceremony during Interaction, the 63rd World Science Fiction Convention. Singer

Susan Boyle Susan Magdalane Boyle (born 1 April 1961) is a Scottish singer. She rose to fame in 2009 after appearing as a contestant on the third series of ''Britain's Got Talent'', singing "I Dreamed a Dream" from '. Boyle's debut studio album, ''I D ...

was discovered at this venue. The building served as the venue for the weightlifting competitions of the

2014 Commonwealth Games The 2014 Commonwealth Games ( gd, Geamannan a' Cho-fhlaitheis 2014), officially known as the XX Commonwealth Games and commonly known as Glasgow 2014, ( sco, Glesca 2014 or Glesga 2014; gd, Glaschu 2014), was an international multi-sport ev ...

, held in Glasgow. In the season of Christmas, the Armadillo is used for pantomimes..

References

External links

Scottish Event Campus

Photographs of the (Armadillo) Clyde Auditorium in Glasgow
InGlasgow.com (Archived)
SECC Armadillo features in Delhi
Clyde Waterfront, 15 October 2010 {{Authority control 1997 establishments in Scotland 2014 Commonwealth Games venues Cultural infrastructure completed in 1997 Culture in Glasgow Exhibition and conference centres in Scotland Foster and Partners buildings High-tech architecture Lattice shell structures Music venues completed in 1997 Music venues in Glasgow Tourist attractions in Glasgow