The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC’s) Somerset Road project recently hit a significant milestone with the installation of its signature double-curved roof steelwork.

The steelwork consists of a series of seven ladder-framed tied arches, which will contain glazed rooflights to provide natural light to the court. The frame is linked by a series of beams of varying curvature that form the distinct shape of the roof to satisfy playing requirements on the indoor courts below.

The steelwork has been manufactured across a number of locations nationwide and successfully brought together and erected on site over the space of 10 weeks. Erection required very careful consideration of sequencing to ensure proper transfer of the compression forces in the arches to corresponding tension in the tie rods to ensure no inadvertent loading was applied to the supporting structure. This required a complex and carefully planned arrangement of propping and craneage.

Cundall is providing structural and civil engineering and BREEAM services on the prestigious redevelopment of Somerset Road Courts. Alongside Hopkins Architects Ltd, Cundall is working for Willmott Dixon to deliver this project for AELTC.

The next step is to install the roof decking over the top, before installing the internal curved timber ceiling. The project is due for completion in late 2021.