BES News

Anyone for BES

16th Dec 2009

IMAGE An artist's impresssion of inside the newly covered Centre Court at Wimbledon.
Copyright AELTC

The Bureau of Engineer Surveyors (BES) enjoyed a excellent discussion on the design, build and commissioning of Wimbledon Centre Court’s new roof recently at Swedenborg Hall in Holborn, London.

John Westmuckett, the structural engineer at Wimbledon and to the project, provided a history of Wimbledon’s structures before outlining the many issues surrounding the roof build. The roof had to be built on the existing footprint, with no interference to the grass on Centre Court or to any of the surrounding courts during construction.

In addition, the roof sight line was raised and re-profiled to permit an extra five rows of seating. The new roof then had to contain the 400 tonnes of air conditioning and roof operating equipment, and yet allow sufficient light to reach the playing grass at all times during the growing season.

The complex steelwork to support the new structures was completed within a year – including the demolition of the existing East Stand.

Daniel Salthouse then discussed design and construction aspects of the mechanical and moving parts of the structure. It surprised the audience to learn the entire moving structure was built and tested on the ground, before being dismantled and reassembled at Wimbledon.

The initial roof structure build was completed in October 2006 in Sheffield, before testing and commissioning in April 2007. Then the unit was dismantled, cleaned and prepared for assembly at Wimbledon in time for the final completion date of August 2008. The assembly of this plant required complex tandem lifts, with cranes operating outside the stadium to gain sufficient reach and height.

Work stopped during each of the Championships throughout the build’s three years, and many aspects of construction were discussed during these periods. The project was completed for the 2009 Championships and even a ‘televised opening ceremony’ was introduced, with little notice. This was one month earlier than the planned completion date and, thus, full operational commissioning with players, crowds and a television audience was successfully completed in good time.

Operationally, it takes thirty minutes to close the roof – eight minutes to move, ten minutes for the integrated lights to warm up and ten minutes for the air conditioning to be effective in the now-enclosed stadium. The whole sequence is highly automated.

Reaction has been good from players, staff and crowds alike. It was stated clearly that the success of this project was achieved through all the contractors working together, with the various issues raised during the build resolved by mutual agreement, and that all had been involved from day one.

Report provided by Peter Hills, Honorary Secretary, SOE Board