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GORE™ TENARA® Architectural Fabric Covers Wimbledon's Centre Court
Wimbledon, UK (May 18, 2009) - W. L. Gore & Associates announced today that the retractable roof over the legendary Centre Court at Wimbledon is made of GORE™ TENARA® Architectural Fabric. Unveiled at the Centre Court Celebration on May 17, the concertina-design roof contains approximately 5,200 square meters of the fabric.
GORE™ TENARA® Architectural Fabric was selected in part for its unparalleled ability to let light pass through while offering reliable protection from the elements. Play at Centre Court still feels like it’s outdoors, even when the roof is closed. This is important both to maintain the traditional experience for players and spectators, and to enable cameras to capture high quality images for broadcast. The roof comprises two styles of the fabric, the major part allowing 40% light transmission and some allowing 20%. The two styles are precisely placed to prevent shadows or bright spots on the court.
The ability of GORE™ TENARA Architectural Fabric to flex and fold without wear was another critical factor in its selection. The design of the roof, and the ability of the fabric to fold into a relatively compact space for storage, contributed to the addition of 1,200 spectator seats to the stadium. For most of the year, the open roof will be folded into its housing for storage. The unique characteristics of GORE™ TENARA® Architectural Fabric ensure that it won’t crack, crease or develop mold and mildew while stored.
The flexibility of the fabric has also enabled the roof to be closed in only ten minutes, eliminating lengthy rain delays of the tournament. The roof will be closed for inclement weather, and an air flow system will ensure a comfortable environment within the stadium.
The retractable roof is built in two sections, one with four bays and the other with five. The fabric was joined using high frequency welding, and is supported by ten steel trusses. Wheels move along tracks to open and close the roof, aided by a series of hydraulic jacks and arms. The roof spans approximately 77 meters across the court, and has a clearance of over 16 meters to accommodate high balls. To learn more
about the Wimbledon installation, visit tenarafabric.com/wimbledon.html.
GORE™ TENARA® Architectural Fabric is a fluoropolymer-coated fabric woven from ePTFE (expanded polytetrafluoroethylene). It uses unique, patented double-coated technology to provide high light transmission along with the flexibility and drape of fabric. The high-strength ePTFE is unaffected by damaging UV rays, acid rain and other environmental challenges, providing durability that carries a 15-year warranty.
To find out more about GORE™ TENARA® Architectural Fabric, visit us at Techtextil 09 in Frankfurt am Main from June 16 – 18, 2009; Hall 3.1, B31.
About GORE™ TENARA® Architectural Fabric
GORE™ TENARA® Architectural Fabric enables innovative permanent, retractable and temporary tensile structures around the world. It is the choice of architects, fabricators and builders seeking architectural fabric with high light transmission, the ability to drape and fold, and proven long life. To learn more, visit tenarafabric.com.
Photos by Andi Schmid, Munich, Germany.
Contact - Europe
Carole Boisdron
W. L. Gore & Associates GmbH
Wernher-von-Braun-Straße 18
D-85640 Putzbrunn
Deutschland
Tel.: +49 89 4612-2216
Fax: +49 89 4612-42216
E-Mail: cboisdro@wlgore.com
Contact - U.S.
Susan Crow
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
100 Airport Road
Elkton, MD 21921
USA
Tel: +1 410-506-7776
Fax: +1 410-996-8585
E-Mail: scrow@wlgore.com