Chris Hoy Velodrome

A Landmark for the Commonwealth Games

The Emirates Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome created a new world-class sporting landmark for Scotland, serving as a showpiece for the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Designed by architects 3DReid and built by Sir Robert McAlpine for Glasgow City Council, this £116m development is one of the largest indoor sports facilities in Europe and Scotland’s first indoor velodrome.

Versatile and Innovative Design

The complex is one of the most versatile, flexible, and innovative structures of its type in Europe. It houses two stadia – a 5,000-seat indoor arena and a 2,000-seat velodrome – connected by a circulation space, the “hub,” which accommodates ancillary facilities and the headquarters of the national sport federation.

Advanced Glazing Solutions

The WICONA WICTEC 50 curtain walling solution was specified to accommodate large unsupported spans of glass up to 4m long. Special connections for the transoms and mullions were engineered to bear the heavier loads of these spans. The system also offered slim sections and consistent profile sizes throughout the project.

The curtain wall was faceted for the velodrome to follow the curve of the striking building and was enhanced with curved bull nose caps, adding visual interest by emphasizing the horizontal profiles. It spans four storeys on the hub linking the two venues, while 77m-long screens of grid curtain walling enclose the arena. Other glazed areas include the atria roof and the level 2 entrance.

State-of-the-Art Facilities

State-of-the-art facilities at the Emirates Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome include a 200m-long hydraulic running track, telescopic seating ensuring clear sightlines for spectators, and a 250m high-banked indoor cycle track with a multi-use in-field area.

The scheme also incorporates a community sports centre, four flood-lit five-a-side pitches, a 1km outdoor cycle track, a gym, spa, dance studio, and an indoor roller sports facility.

WICONA's solutions :

WICTEC 50