Retractable roof debuts at U.S. Open

When the U.S. Open begins this week at Arthur Ashe Stadium, there will be more than athletic prowess on display. A new retractable roof, part of the nine-year masterplan to reimagine the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, N.Y., will make its debut over the 23,771-seat stadium.

Credit: Michael Le Brecht II

WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff provided structural engineering design for the new roof in partnership with ROSSETTI, the design architect for the project. The firm also provided structural and MEP engineering on the original stadium, which opened nearly 20 years ago.

Structural engineers from WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff, who designed the retractable roof and were involved with the design of the original stadium, will be available for comment leading up to and throughout the US Open.

Credit: Jennifer Pottheiser

Ahmad Rahimian, director of building structures, was principal-in-charge responsible for the structural design of the roof, as well as the original stadium. The stadium roof is the latest entry in the indelible mark Ahmad has made throughout the greater New York City area, with additional project work including the structural engineering of One World Trade Center and Hearst Tower. As principal-in-charge, Rahimian was responsible for the overall structural design of the roof, including the structural concept for the 520-foot-long span roof structure, its foundation and its stability against earthquake and hurricane wind forces. 

Yoram Eilon, senior vice president, served as project manager on the project. His experience covers the entire spectrum of building types, ranging from high-rise to long-span structures, and includes new construction as well as rehabilitation and alteration of existing structures. Eilon has managed the structural engineering design for many other prominent projects, in New York City including Hearst Tower, One World Trade Center, Columbia Manhattanville and 50 Hudson Yards.