PTFE Membrane Structure Memorial Drive Tennis Center Canopy

   The mission of the Memorial Drive reconstruction project is to ensure the future configuration of the Adelaide Tennis Centre complex meets the sporting and entertainment needs of South Australia. The project entails redeveloping all court surfaces, constructing a new sunken performance venue, player shelters, and landscape beautification. Adding a touch of magnificence to the project is a 5800m² lightweight PTFE tensile membrane roof, covering the existing central court and spectator stands.

  This 5800m² PTFE membrane roof protects patrons in both permanent and temporary seating areas and covers the corporate hospitality zones installed around the central court for major events. The highly translucent canopy creates visually striking fabric structures, enhancing the tennis experience for players and spectators by providing shelter from wind and rain, thus amplifying daytime and nighttime matches.

  One of the standout features of the Memorial Drive Tennis Centre canopy design is its incredibly large-span truss (almost 80 meters long), supported by only four perimeter columns. This presented manufacturing and installation challenges for the trusses supporting the 80m-long PTFE fabric panels. The fabric panels are made of high-translucent PTFE-coated fiberglass and supported by painted steel beams. PTFE, with its dynamic tensile properties, unparalleled quality, aesthetics, self-cleaning capability, and durability, proves to be the ideal material for the central court of the Memorial Drive Tennis Centre.

  When constructing a standalone roof structure on a heritage building, the project team meticulously considered the positioning of the structure, as well as the location and depth of the foundations. Design, site layout, and careful construction methodologies ensure sufficient distance from the historic tennis club buildings, ensuring they remain undisturbed.