Renovation of Wimbledon
Architect: Populous

For several months Wimbledon’s Centre Court has had a retractable roof so that play can go on in all weathers.

The oldest tennis tournament in the world (1877), Wimbledon is often considered the most prestigious. Some of its installations were obsolete and the Centre Court, where since 1922 only the stands were covered, had to stop play in the event of poor weather. Populous (architects Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum) were commissioned to develop the master plan and refurbish some parts. The redefinition of several courts and the creation of a new No. 2 Court with 4,000 spaces which architects have slightly lowered to reduce its visual impact. However, the most spectacular work remains without doubt the retractable Centre Court roof.

With a 65x75 m surface, the new moving roof is made up of a translucent PTFE roof which when closed preserves the natural lighting over the grass. This is important for players, spectators and for high quality television pictures. The 5200 m2 fabric is fixed on ten mobile trellis steel beams with a span of 77 m. When open, the beams are stowed at the north and south ends, on the fixed roof which covers the stands. The fabric is folded into a relatively compact storage area. Nothing will disturb the spectators’ view. To close it all and shelter the grass, the beams move along rails with the aid of a series of hydraulic jacks and the fabric unfolds over 16 metres above the ground to give room for high balls. It needs about ten minutes to put in place the 700 tonnes of roof.

Very light, solid, flexible and above all waterproof, the non toxic fluoro polymer Gore ™ Tenara Ž architectural fabric was chosen for its capacity to filter natural light while protecting against the elements. It can also avoid the risk of any development of mildew when folded.

A key factor is the internal environment when the roof is closed. To ensure favourable conditions for play and to avoid condensation within the bubble a network of cooled water ducts and heating pipes through kilometres of steel cross pieces which support the retractable roof system has been installed. As soon as the roof starts closing, a Victaulic system starts to control the Centre Court climate. The articulated steel tubing must bear the structural deflection and heat deformation, and take the cooled and heating water round the complex. Thirty minutes after the roof is closed, the internal environment is stabilised and play can restart.