Company:
Fabritecture

Project Details

Fabric 1

FGT-800 PTFE
Producer/Manufacturer: Chukoh Chemical Industries Ltd.
Primary Use: Main Fabric


Engineer Company 1
ARUP Group / Maffeis Engineering

Design Company
Fabritecture

Architect Company
COX Architecture

Subcontractor Company
Fabritecture

Project Manager Company
Fabritecture

Installation Company
Fabritecture


Please describe the project specifications

The Ken Rosewall Arena project is a redevelopment project for the original stadium which was constructed in 2000 for the Sydney Olympic Games. The project aimed to transform the existing tennis arena from an open air venue into a multi-purpose indoor arena. Our contract was for the striking new cable-tension and PTFE fabric design roof. The client requested a solution that could transform the venue into a multi-purpose outdoor covered arena with upsized in-stadia videoboards, new seating and shade for 10,000 spectators. The idea behind the roof was to allow the venue to operate unaffected by environmental impacts such as extreme heat, wind and rain.


What is unique or complex about the project?

Ken Rosewall Arena was a fantastic choice to submit into the IFAI IAA as it is the first of its kind in Australia! The symmetrical cable net system was engineered to suspend 91 tonnes of steel between supports. This system enclosed the roof to create the indoor arena. The suspended roof span between supports is 92 meters. Above the central, hovering tension ring is the ‘popup roof’ which boasts 360-degree operable louvres to allow natural ventilation of the stadium whilst also remaining weatherproof during events.

The roof needed to be tensioned systematically so as not to introduce damaging loads into the supporting concrete plats. This was achieved by symmetric tensioning of the cable net. The tension ring at the centre of the roof is made of steel, not cable. This is not typical of a cable net roofing system and required tight install force control during cable tensioning to protect the integrity of the steel tension ring. We developed a unique installation method utilising temporary support tower to reduce the ‘big lift’. This also benefited the client by significantly reducing programme.

The fabric chosen for the roof is Chukoh FGT-800 PTFE. At night, the translucent fabric glows when the internal arena lights are on. The PTFE fabric was installed from work platform nets and rope access allowing simultaneous redevelopment of the stands and court below.

The arena had a tight turnaround between construction and opening events during the Christmas-New Year period. The ATP Cup was the first event hosted at the newly redeveloped arena which was a hugely successful event. The arena now operates as a multi-purpose venue, including tennis and netball, and is home to the Sydney Giants. The final results of the arena were fantastic, and the client was extremely pleased.


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