Retractable roof on Centre Court, Wimbledon Exterior Heavy

Project. During inclement weather, the of 1200 spectator seats to the stadium. Project/Location: Retractable roof on Centre games on Wimbledon Centre For most of the year, the open roof will Court, Wimbledon, , Court had to be stopped. This resulted be folded into its housing for storage. Architect: Global Design Firm Populous, in long breaks and delays during the The unique characteristics of SEFAR® London, England, www.populous.com Wimbledon tournament. Architecture TENARA® Fabric ensure Engineering: Tensys Ltd., Bath, UK that it won't crack, crease or develop General contractor: Galliford Try plc, Concept/Design. SEFAR® Architecture mold and mildew while stored. England, www.gallifordtry.co.uk TENARA® Fabric was selected in part Fabric: SEFAR® Architecture TENARA® Fabric for its unparalleled ability to let light Construction. The new retractable 4T20HF and 4T40HF pass through while offering reliable roof over Wimbledon's famed Centre Photos: andi Schmid fotografie, Munich, protection from the elements. Play at Court is built in two sections, one with www.fotolevel.de Centre Court still feels like it is out- four bays and the other with five. The doors, even when the roof is closed. fabric was joined using high frequency This is important both to maintain the welding, and is supported by ten steel traditional experience for players and trusses. Wheels move along tracks to spectators, and to enable cameras to open and close the roof, aided by a capture high quality images for broad- series of hydraulic jacks and arms. cast. The roof comprises two styles of The installation closes/opens in under the fabric, the major part allowing 10 minutes. The roof spans approxima- 40% light transmission and some tely 77 meters across the court, and allowing 20%. The two styles are has a clearance of over 16 meters to precisely placed to prevent shadows accommodate high balls. The roof or bright spots on the court. contains approximately 5200 square The ability of SEFAR® Architecture meters of the fabric. TENARA® Fabric to flex and fold Because SEFAR® Architecture TENARA® without wear was another critical Fabric allows natural light to pass factor in its selection. The design of through, play at Centre Court still feels the roof, and the folding of the fabric like it is outdoors, even when the roof into a relatively compact space for is closed. storage, contributed to the addition

Architecture Interior / Exterior

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