SEC Armadillo, Convention center and auditorium on the north bank of the River Clyde in Glasgow, United Kingdom.
The SEC Armadillo features a distinctive design with overlapping aluminium shells resembling a ship's hull, rising approximately forty meters tall and reflecting light from the River Clyde below.
Designed by Norman Foster and completed in 1997 at a cost of thirty million pounds, this venue was built on the site of the former Queen's Dock to modernize Glasgow's conference infrastructure.
The venue pays homage to Glasgow's shipbuilding heritage through its industrial aesthetic and curved metallic form, which evokes the hull of a traditional Clyde-built ship.
The auditorium can accommodate over three thousand delegates and features electronic voting systems, simultaneous translation facilities, and a stage accessible directly by large trucks for complex productions.
The building gained international attention in 2009 when Susan Boyle auditioned for Britain's Got Talent here, launching her career and becoming a significant moment in the venue's history.
Location: Glasgow City
Inception: 1997
Architects: Norman Foster
Architectural style: high-tech architecture
Part of: SEC Centre
Address: SEC Armadillo, Exhibition Way, Glasgow G3 8YW, UK G3 8YW
Phone: +441412483000
Website: https://sec.co.uk/organise-an-event/sec-armadillo-auditorium
GPS coordinates: 55.85950,-4.28796
Latest update: November 24, 2025 14:55
Glasgow combines medieval structures with Victorian architecture and modern cultural buildings. The city offers photographers a mix of Gothic churches, sandstone buildings, and green spaces along the River Clyde. The route includes the 12th-century cathedral and the adjacent Necropolis with its monuments on a hillside. Kelvingrove Museum displays Spanish Baroque architecture, while the University of Glasgow presents Gothic towers and courtyards. The Botanic Gardens house Victorian glasshouses with iron and glass structures. The Riverside Museum documents the city's industrial history, and modern venues like the SSE Hydro and Clyde Auditorium complete the route. The collection covers religious, academic, and industrial architecture, along with parks and cemeteries.
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