SEC Armadillo

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title: "SEC Armadillo" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1997-establishments-in-scotland", "2014-commonwealth-games-venues", "buildings-and-structures-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"] description: "Auditorium located in Glasgow, Scotland" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SEC_Armadillo" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Auditorium located in Glasgow, Scotland ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox venue"]

Field	Value
name	SEC Armadillo
nickname	The 2k Armadillo
image	Clyde Auditorium from across the Clyde - geograph.org.uk - 1554326.jpg
image_caption	Clyde Auditorium as seen from Pacific Quay, 2009
address	Finnieston Street
Glasgow
G3 8YW
location	Glasgow, Scotland, UK
coordinates
broke_ground
built
to
opened
owner	Scottish Event Campus Limited
construction_cost	£30 million
architect	Foster and Partners
structural_engineer	Arup Group
former_names	Clyde Auditorium (1994–2017)
seating_capacity	3,000
website
public_transit	Exhibition Centre railway station
::

| name = SEC Armadillo | nickname = The 2k Armadillo | image = Clyde Auditorium from across the Clyde - geograph.org.uk - 1554326.jpg | image_caption = Clyde Auditorium as seen from Pacific Quay, 2009 | address = Finnieston Street Glasgow G3 8YW | location = Glasgow, Scotland, UK | coordinates = | type = | event = | broke_ground = | built = to | opened = | renovated = | expanded = | closed = | demolished = | owner = Scottish Event Campus Limited | construction_cost = £30 million | architect = Foster and Partners | structural_engineer = Arup Group | former_names = Clyde Auditorium (1994–2017) | seating_type = | seating_capacity = 3,000 | website = | public_transit = Exhibition Centre railway station The SEC Armadillo (originally known as the Clyde Auditorium) is an auditorium located near the River Clyde, in Glasgow, Scotland. It is one of three venues on the Scottish Event Campus, which includes the SEC Centre and the OVO Hydro.

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/42/Wfm_foster_armadillo.jpg" caption="The auditorium viewed from across the Clyde, also showing the [[Bell's Bridge]] linking the area to [[Pacific Quay"] ::

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, 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 is approximately 40 metres (131 feet) tall and 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 to 2010 where Singer Susan Boyle was discovered, the auditions for the first four editions of The X Factor and the Hugo Award ceremony during Interaction, the 63rd World Science Fiction Convention.

The building served as the venue for the weightlifting competitions of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, held in Glasgow. In the season of Christmas, the Armadillo is used for pantomimes..

References

References

1. . (27 January 2017). ["All change as SECC is renamed the Scottish Event Campus"](http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/15051637.All_change_as_SECC_is_renamed_the_Scottish_Event_Campus/). *Newsquest (Herald & Times)*.
2. [https://www.whatsonglasgow.co.uk/listings/sec-armadillo/ SEC Armadillo] ''www.whatsonglasgow.co.uk''. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
3. (21 January 2020). "Susan Boyle in return to Glasgow venue where Britain's Got Talent journey began".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::