The SSE Hydro Arena, designed by world-renowned architects Foster+Partners, forms part of the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC). The addition of the arena has transformed the site into a nationally significant exhibition, conference and entertainment pavilion. 

The first purpose-built concert venue of its scale, the SSE Hydro Arena offers a combined seated and standing capacity of up to 13,000 and will play host to around 140 events each year, including entertainment from national and international celebrities and performers as well as major sporting events.

FES played a key role in the realisation of this flagship venue, providing electrical services including HV/LV distribution equipment and cabling; 3nr HV sub-stations and associated cabling; small power; fire safety; data and communications systems; feature lighting, general lighting and lighting controls.

The arena stands at 45m high with a layout modelled on Greek and Roman amphitheatres and is now a prominent landmark on the Glasgow city skyline. By night, visitors to the venue are greeted by its distinctive, translucent skin (ETFE), installed by FES, which can glow 12.8 million different colours.

FES worked closely with Sir Robert McAlpine to deliver this state of the art building in time for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

The world-class sports complex, one of the largest of its type in Europe, was home to the highly successful 2014 Commonwealth Games. The flexible Sports Arena includes three main sports halls with 5,000 spectator seats, dance and fitness studios and 200-metre indoor athletics track.

The adjoining Velodrome, which was opened by multi-gold medal-winning Olympian and Commonwealth Games champion, Sir Chris Hoy, has a 250-metre track and permanent seating for 2,500 spectators, with a further 2,000 temporary seats for the 2014 Games. It was the scene of many of the victories which gave the Australian cycling team its dominant position by the end of the games, with 24 medals. A central administration block also incorporates hospitality suites and offices for the national sports federations. 

FES provided the Electrical Services for the following: Containment systems, LV distribution and associated equipment, Standby generator, General power, Event Lighting, General Lighting (internal / external), Lighting controls, Central Battery System – Emergency Lighting, PA/VE, HV installation, Data/Wi-Fi, Fire and Security, Disabled alarms and Disabled refuge systems.

Councillor Archie Graham, Executive Member for the Commonwealth Games at Glasgow City Council, said: “The construction of the National Indoor Sports Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome is another landmark towards the creation of a world-class sporting complex for Glasgow. The arena and velodrome will be seen around the world when the badminton and indoor cycling events of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games are held here. There will be many other top-class sporting events held at the venue, with fantastic facilities for users to improve their health and fitness, and this will undoubtedly be a fantastic asset to Glasgow and Scotland.”

FES is proud to have been involved in the build of the new Headquarters for BBC Scotland.

Pacific Quay is situated just outside Glasgow on the River Clyde, opposite the SECC and next to the
Science Centre.

The new building is a dynamic broadcasting centre and a benchmark in terms of state-of-the-art technology and production methods, across TV, radio and online.

All BBC Scotland’s national broadcast output comes from here, including the hugely popular Reporting Scotland, Frontline Scotland and Sportscene. Pacific Quay reception is open to the public and from interactive displays to viewing pods there is plenty to see and do.

A key feature of this project was to provide an infrastructure which met the client’s current requirements and also to ensure the facilities could readily adapt to ever changing technologies with minimal disruption to production capability.