Although I knew the centre court was being upgraded with a new roof I didn't know there was plans for a new court 2 & 3 as well

From Propertyweek



Top Wimbledon courts will be rebuilt for Olympics

All-England Club plans makeover for No 2 and No 3 courts as it prepares for Olympics
24 November, 2006
By Mark Leftly

Courts No 2 and No 3 at the All-England Club, home of the Wimbledon championships, are to be demolished and rebuilt in time for the 2012 London Olympics.

This is part of a wider redevelopment of the southern part of the site, which will include the provision of new restaurants.

The aim is to get Wimbledon, in south-west London, ready for the Olympic tennis tournament.

At present the two courts are considered to be too close together, cramping pedestrian movement. A source said: “The latest thinking is to do this build in two or three phases and aim for the Olympics. It would provide more space and better circulation.”

A second insider added: “The suggestion is to bring forward plans to fit with the Olympic timetable.”

No 2 court would be demolished and moved to the south-east of the site. No 3 court would be rebuilt on its current site or moved slightly westward.

Planning permission for a 5,000-seat No 2 court in the south-east corner was obtained in 2002, before London won the Olympics, to ensure that the estate could be updated quickly.

A spokesman for Wimbledon said: “We have no news on timings; we are reviewing the options. For the past 18 months we have been looking at it.”

However, sources close to the plans insist that the All-England Club is keen to get the project under way as soon as possible to complement the installation of an HOK Sport-designed roof on centre court, due for completion by 2009. Realigning the southern courts would mirror similar changes made to those in the north, where the courts are better spaced.

Building Design Partnership’s 1993 All-England Club masterplan stipulated that changes should be made by 2012 but those time limits have become outdated. As a result, new development has moved at a slower pace and taken a different direction to that intended.

http://i15.tinypic.com/4bz2nwg.jpg

BTW- Demolition & construction of Centre has been going on for a while now.

http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/about/guide/longtermplan.html

The new roof is a very complicated beast.
Partly because it needs to be retractable and more so because it is a timber construction. I believe it will be the largest (possibly only) timber moveable roof in the world.

sounds good, I like wood in buildings

Hmmm...sounds a decent project; to be considered the best it doesn't hurt to do a bit of updating and upgrading to the venues and facilities, as long as it doesn't ruin the character of Wimbledon, which is very unique and not something easily replicated.

Two questions though: What are they going to do about the actual Wimbledon grand slam tournament when it comes around each yeasr between now and 2012?? Where are they going to play instead of in Courts 2 and 3??

And, doesn't it seem a bit late to be doing this, I mean it hardly seems fair to ask a British building project to be done in less then 6 years?? ;)

As a big tennis fan I'm very excited about this!

For Wimbledon next year, I believe Centre Court will be used but it won't have any roof at all, just open stands.

Now the rich will know what it's like to sit still for 3 hours in sun at the end of June.

Now the rich will know what it's like to sit still for 3 hours in sun at the end of June.

Lets hope their strawberries and cream spoil in the heat :devil:

That's very interesting, why are they using wood?

I think this is a webcam of the redevelopment

http://www.siteeyelive.com/monitor/camputer41.jpg

I think this is a webcam of the redevelopment

http://www.siteeyelive.com/monitor/camputer41.jpg

Yes, that's Centre Court. It looks very surreal without the roof and with half the seats missing...