Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
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The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall is a music auditorium in the city of Glasgow, Scotland.
Constructed in the late 80s, the building was officially opened in October 1990, after what had been a controversial construction programme, beset with technical and financial problems.
The Concert Hall was a byproduct of Glasgow's 1990 City of Culture status, and was intended as a replacement for St. Andrews Hall, which had been destroyed by fire in 1964. The hall was seen as a major symbol of the city's regeneration after years of neglect and deprivation. The hall occupies a site at the junction of Buchanan Street and Sauchiehall Street, which was once home to the Glasgow NAAFI, and the former Parliamentary Road, which was rendered derelict after the building of Buchanan St. Bus Station in 1978. The development also included a massive shopping mall, which would become the Buchanan Galleries, although it was almost a decade later before this was realised.
The two main auditoria can accommodate 2500, and has seating teirs that can be moved hydraulically to suit whatever layout is required - the Hall is often used for non-music events, such as graduation ceremonies for nearby Glasgow Caledonian University. In addition, the auditorium area is insulated by a massive rubber membrane built into the floor - intended to dampen out noise and vibration from the Subway tracks which run underneath.
During the building phase the Concert Hall attracted much criticism from the press owing to its huge cost, and the management of its construction, its over-imposing facade, and even the acoustics of the main auditorium have been criticised. The project ran out of money during construction and building work stopped in 1989. The East wall of the building was left without sandstone cladding for the first 6 years of its life, some debate exists over whether this unsightly mess was in anticipation of the Buchanan Galleries which now adjoins onto this part of the building, or whether this was due to the financial problems.
Despite all the setbacks over its construction (which have all now been largely forgotten), the Concert Hall is now one of Scotland's most prestigious musical venues, and is a much-accepted landmark in the city centre.