Tennis in Queensland has a new home, the purpose built Queensland Tennis Centre, on Brisbane's Southside. HOK Sport Architecture designed the international standard facility to ensure it was benchmarked against the best in the world. The sports architect specialists say the roof over the main arena, which acts as both a parasol and an umbrella, is the special feature of Centre Court, providing both the outdoor atmosphere of tennis and permanent shade cover.

The Queensland Tennis Centre is staging its first international tournament this week, the Brisbane International, a major new tournament associated with the Australian Open Grand Slam. The centre, on the site of the decommissioned Tennyson Power Station, is linked to a new luxury residential and parklands riverfront development, and will be the vehicle to provide a “nursery” for Queensland’s future world champions, as well as international events. The facility is owned by the Queensland Government and managed by Stadiums Queensland.

The HOK Sport team was led by Senior Principal, Andrew James, who says the inclusion of the "open roof" is both a cost effective and practical solution.

"The fixed roof is partially solid (tin roof) and partially fabric (PTFE fabric). Insulation within the metal roof panels of the solid roof keeps the arena cooler and drier in summer, and cuts down the noise from the outside, particularly the heavy rain while retaining the intensity and theatre of the action inside. The fact the umbrella is "open" has also allowed us to make the best possible use of natural light," said Mr James.

"The multipurpose nature of the tennis centre is another of its features, ensuring the facility is environmentally sustainable in the true sense of the word, because it can be used all year round by its community", he added.

The entire precinct has been designed with equitable accessibility in mind, both for spectators and players, with wheelchair tennis a growing professional sport. Wheelchair users and companions can access their seats directly off street level, without the use of lifts.

The tennis centre features all three "Grand Slam" surfaces – grass, clay and cushioned acrylic hard court. There are a total of twenty two matches and training courts, most of which can be used daily by the local community, as well as dressed up for major events. The masterplan also allows for additional uses of the facility in the future.

Queensland Tennis Center Facts

Location:	Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Client:	Queensland Government
Completion:	December 2008
Value:	AUD $82M
Sport:	State, National and International Tennis
Facilities:	5,500 seat capacity, roofed international-standard centre court 22 match and training courts Grass, clay and cushioned acrylic hard court "Grand Slam" surfaces Facilities for community tennis Headquarters of Tennis Queensland Home of Queensland Academy of Sport's tennis program

For further information please contact
Michele Fleming at Populous (Brisbane)
Telephone +61 (0)7 3839 9155
Facsimilie +61 (0)7 3839 9188
 
Email media@populous.com

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