Roof section takes top billing at city’s latest entertainment venue

The 330-tonne central roof section has been put into place at a new entertainment arena in Glasgow.

It took five days to lift the 48-metre diameter section into position at the Hydro, next to the SECC.

The arena will open in September 2013. It is a purpose-built, 12,000-capacity entertainment venue which will host around 140 events a year. 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. Yesterday it reached the top and was fixed in place. The building, designed by Foster + Partners, is being constructed by Lend Lease.

Gordon Anderson, executive general manager of Lend Lease, said: “This is the most complex feat of engineering in Scotland this year and a major step in the Hydro’s construction process.

“The next step involves the positioning of 16 roof segments between the perimeter of the building and the central section.”