Thornton Tomasetti provides structural and faade engineering services for Wimbledon Court No. 1

Wimbledon, London — Thornton Tomasetti’s London office provided the structural and façade engineering services for the design of a new No. 1 Court development at The All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon. Redevelopment of No. 1 Court is part of the larger Wimbledon Master Plan project that began in July 2013, with an anticipated conclusion date in 2019. The primary objective is to create a world-class sporting venue with national and international significance, status and reputation.

With close to 30 million viewers watching the Championships each year, the new static and retractable roof on No. 1 Court will allow for uninterrupted play on two show courts.  No. 1 Court will also feature improved public facilities, 15 new hospitality suites on a remodeled level, catering facilities, commentary boxes and refreshed seating. It will have an overall capacity of more than 12,000 seats.

Thornton Tomasetti designed the new static roof structure that will support the moving roof and accommodate the roof plant equipment. The firm also designed the roof trusses of the moving roof. The new moving roof will feature long span triangular trusses that clear span 75 meters across the width of the bowl, and will be supported by the static roof. A tensioned fabric will span between the main trusses.

The cladding design features a combination of new vertical façade zones for the hospitality extension works, debentures and cores, as well as feature cladding for the roof and bowl areas to complement the geometrical aspects of the sports arena.

Innovative use of technological tools allowed the team to deliver a fully coordinated complex design fitting for this world-class venue. Thornton Tomasetti was able to efficiently develop the design within the many spatial constraints shaping the building envelope. The design and planned construction of the final building form would not have been realized in the same way without the use of such tools.

“We feel very privileged to be part of this project,” said Tanya de Hoog, principal, UK director. The quantity and quality of design that has gone into this building from the whole design team is remarkable. From a structural perspective, the integration of new components stitched into an existing building adds another layer of complexity.”