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 Wimbledon's
Centre Court To Get a Roof
Wimbledon
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How many times have we watched
a thrilling match on Wimbledon's Centre Court with our hearts
in our mouths, hardly able to bear the suspense? Unfortunately,
exciting as the tennis might have been, the real cause of
anxiety has often been whether those threatening clouds
are going to bring rain and stop play. Many of us can remember
the time when play was stopped for so long that Cliff Richard,
a keen tennis fan and frequent visitor to Wimbledon, entertained
the crowd with an impromptu, unaccompanied concert. Usually,though,
crowds at Wimbledon and viewers at home just have to twiddle
their thumbs and try to be patient, hoping the rain will
stop soon and play can resume.
We all know the English climate
can be unpredictable and sometimes our summers are wet.
This had led to a prolonged debate about putting a roof
on Centre Court. To some people this is nothing short of
heresy while others see it as a sensible option for the
venue of the world's most famous tennis championships. The
innovators have won and plans have been confirmed to add
a retractable roof to Wimbledon's Centre Court in 2009.
The design uses using a type
of ‘folding fabric concertina’ allowing the
roof to be folded into a very compressed area when not in
use over the court, as well as being translucent enough
to provide an ‘open’ feel when the roof is closed
over the court. The fabric is a special waterproof structural
material that is very strong, highly flexible and translucent.
Approximately 5,200 square metres of fabric will be used.
A key element of the design
has been to allow natural light to reach the grass, while
an airflow system removes condensation from within the bowl
to provide the optimum internal environment for the comfort
of spectators and players when the roof is closed.
The retractable roof is divided
into two Menu, with a total of nine bays of structural
fabric - four bays in one section and five in the other.
Each of the nine bays of structural fabric is clamped on
either side by prismatic steel trusses. There are 10 trusses
spanning approximately 77 metres across the court. The ends
of each truss are supported by a set of wheels that move
along a track positioned on the new ‘fixed’
roof of the Centre Court.
In preparation for closing
the roof, one section is parked in its folded state at the
north end of the court while the other is parked at the
south end. A combination of hydraulic jacks and arms form
the mechanism for closing the roof.
The mechanism moves the trusses
apart and, at the same time, unfolds and stretches out the
fabric between the trusses over the court until the two
Menu meet in an overlapping seam above the middle of
the court.
The arch shape to the tops
of the trusses helps the structure to withstand loading
from elements such as snow and wind when the roof is stretched
and closed over the court. The shape also assists in providing
sufficient clearance for high balls – 16 metres.
The roof has been designed
to close in under 10 minutes. If the roof is being closed
for rain, court covers will protect the grass in the usual
way while closure is in progress.
After the roof has been closed,
play can resume within a period of between 10-30 minutes,
depending on climatic conditions.
More
about Wimbledon Tennis Championships
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Copyright © 2004
by Carol Fisher. All Rights Reserved
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