Innovation and best practice wins at Wimbledon
29/06/2006
Centre Court at Wimbledon has recently had replacement terracing, constructed using a specially designed and formulated lightweight, water resistant concrete.
The world famous Centre Court at the home of The All England Lawn Tennis Club (Wimbledon) has recently had replacement terracing, constructed using a specially designed and formulated lightweight, water resistant concrete. In preparation for the forthcoming Championships and to improve spectator seating the terracing for levels A-H has been replaced. Lightweight concrete was needed to reduce the loading pressure of the existing 1922 structure and watertight concrete was required to prevent water penetration through to the remaining concrete and facilities below.
Lytag aggregate was used in the concrete and PUDLO waterproofing powder was also incorporated to produce a low water cement ratio of 0.38.
The numerous construction joints in the terracing were sealed using hDR Waterstop and the whole concrete area was further protected by a coating of Instalastic TG, a non-slip, highly durable, waterproof layer of only 2mm thickness.
Where old concrete met new a high performance, waterproof, flexible jointing tape was fixed along the 'toe' area to eliminate water ingress without stopping differential movement.
Building Design Partnership and Galliford Try used these materials in the design and build to replace the old unmodified concrete terracing and asphalt topping.
The loading of the previous structure had been causing significant structural strain and using the new materials, loading was reduced by 50%.
David Ball, PUDLO's chairman, said 'lightweight, water resistant concrete was ideal for this project and demonstrates how specialist knowledge and innovative materials can be combined to provide a solution'.
'It was great to have a client willing to incorporate new technology and ideas'.
'The terracing is watertight and ready for The Championships.'