Scottish Exhibition Centre Ltd (SEC) has announced the appointment of architects Foster and Partners as design team leader to create its new 50 million purpose-built Arena.
Foster and Partners beat off competition from several other architectural practices after achieving the highest rating in a rigorous procedure conducted in accordance with the OJEC process.
The new 12,500-seat Arena is the first major development to be undertaken in the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centres (SECC) 350 million master plan, called QD2, which was unveiled in October 2003 revealing the venues plans to transform its 64-acre site into a complete exhibition, conference and entertainments complex.
Design work on the Arena, which is intended to be a national arena for Scotland, has started and construction is anticipated to commence in 2005 with a projected opening date of late 2007.
Whilst the Arena will focus primarily on entertainments events, its flexibility will enable it to stage large and small-scale concerts, childrens shows, ice shows and sporting and other spectator events. The public will be able to enjoy an enhanced entertainments experience; there will be a wide range of food and drink outlets as well as a number of private boxes each capable of accommodating 12 people.
