having just celebrated the 'topping out' ceremony upon the tightening of the last screw in the roof structure, the 'hydro' entertainment venue in
glasgow will become the newest addition to the scottish exhibition and conference center. its ovular shape is modeled after the ancient roman and
greek amphitheaters to provide optimal views from any seat. the iconic facade is made up of pneumatic translucent cushions, originally developed for
use by NASA, to allow the interior to be illuminated during the day but give off a very distinct glow at night. designed by british practice foster + partners,
the 12,000-seat cultural event hall is scheduled to open in the fall of 2013 and is projected to become the fifth largest venue in the world, injecting upwards
of 131 million pounds into the economy from the one-million estimated annual visitors.
