SEC Centre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids SEC Centre |
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Main entrance to the SEC Centre in 2018
|
|
| Address | Exhibition Way Glasgow G3 8YW |
| Location | Finnieston, Glasgow, Scotland |
| Coordinates | 55°51′39″N 4°17′17″W / 55.86085°N 4.28812°W |
| Owner | Scottish Event Campus Limited |
| Inaugurated | 27 November 1985 |
| Opened | 6 September 1985 |
| Renovated | 2000 |
| Expanded |
|
|
Construction cost
|
£36 million |
|
Former names
|
Scottish Exhibition Centre (planning/construction) Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (1985–2017) |
| Banquet/ballroom | 400 (Loch Suite) 100 (Seminar Suite) 72 (Gala Room) 624 (Lomond Auditorium) 300 (Forth Room) |
|
Theatre seating
|
10,000 (Concert Hall 4) 5,000 (Concert Hall 3) |
| Enclosed space | |
| • Exhibit hall floor | 23,355 m2 (251,391 sq ft) |
| • Breakout/meeting | 4,431 m2 (47,695 sq ft) |
| Parking | 1,600 spaces |
|
Bicycle facilities
|
18 spaces |
| Public transit access | Exhibition Centre railway station |
The SEC Centre is Scotland's biggest place for shows and events. It's located in Glasgow, Scotland. Until 2017, it was called the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre. It's one of three main buildings that make up the Scottish Event Campus.
This amazing place first opened in 1985. Since then, it has grown a lot! Two big new buildings were added. The first was the SEC Armadillo in 1997. Then came the OVO Hydro in 2013. The SEC Centre is very famous for hosting concerts. Many people come to see their favorite bands play in Hall 4 and Hall 3.
Contents
How the SEC Centre Was Built
The idea for a big exhibition centre in Glasgow started in 1979. A perfect spot was found at the old Queen's Dock. This area used to be a busy port for ships. But it closed in 1969.
Work began in 1982 to prepare the land. They used rubble from an old train station to fill in the dock. Building the SEC Centre started in 1983.
The Main Building's Story
The main SEC Centre building opened in 1985. The very first event was a concert by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. In 1988, it hosted a big show for the Glasgow Garden Festival. Glasgow was named the European City of Culture in 1990. The SEC Centre was a key part of those celebrations.
When it first opened, people called the building "The Big Red Shed." This was because it looked like a giant red warehouse. But in 1997, the building was expanded and painted grey. So, the nickname stopped being used.
The SEC Centre covers a huge area, about 64 acres. Much of this space is used for car parking. It hosts many music concerts, exciting exhibitions, and important conferences. The centre even has its own train station, Exhibition Centre. This station is part of Glasgow's local train network. A tall hotel, the Crowne Plaza, also opened on the site in 1989.
In September 1996, a new exhibition hall, Hall 3, was added. It gave the centre much more space for events.
The SEC Armadillo Building
In 1995, construction started on a brand new building. This was the Clyde Auditorium. It was designed by a famous architect named Sir Norman Foster. People in Glasgow often call it "the armadillo" because of its unique shape. This building can hold 3,000 people. It was finished in August 1997.
The OVO Hydro Expansion
In 2004, the SEC Centre owners planned another big project. They wanted to improve the Queen's Dock area again. This project was called QD2. It included building the OVO Hydro. This is a huge concert arena that can seat 12,500 people. It cost £50 million to build. The OVO Hydro opened in September 2013.
Exciting Shows and Events
The SEC Centre has hosted many different kinds of events. It was the location for the Eurovision Dance Contest 2008. It also hosted the popular Girls' Day Out Show several times. The Scottish Golf Show was held here in 2009 and 2010. The venue also hosts the well-known BBC Good Food Show every year.
The SEC Centre has welcomed the World Science Fiction convention three times. These were in 1995, 2005, and 2024. In June 2012, the Irish pop band Westlife was honored here. They received special bar stools to mark their 49 performances. They had entertained over 380,000 fans at the SEC Centre. This was more than any other act!
NHS Louisa Jordan Hospital
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the SEC Centre was turned into a special hospital. It was called NHS Louisa Jordan. This hospital was run by NHS Scotland. It was set up to help with critical care if needed. It could hold 300 beds, with space to expand to over 1,000.
However, the venue was not used for critical COVID-19 care. Instead, it helped with medical appointments, blood donations, and staff training. It also became a big center for COVID-19 vaccinations.
United Nations Climate Change Conference
The SEC Centre hosted the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference. This important meeting was first planned for 2020. But it was postponed because of the pandemic. After its time as a hospital, work began in July 2021 to get the centre ready. The conference then took place in October and November 2021.
See also
In Spanish: SEC Centre para niños
