Matt Rosetti
Once the United States Open Tennis Tournament crowns the women’s and men’s champions from September 6 to 7 at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, the biggest racket listened to the site will not be the players or the crowd, but the start of $ 800 million to improve their own. 24,000 places Arthur Ashe Stadium, the The largest tennis stadium in the world and adds a new player performance center.
Just before the U.S. Open’s main draw will start on August 24, Enr trapped with Matt Rossetti, chairman and CEO of Detroit’s design firm, Rossetti and Principal Architect of the projectwhich has already begun really with the reinforcement of the stadium columns. Rossetti’s firm has been working at the Tennis site since 1990.
Enr: What does it mean for you to continue working at the National Tennis Center?
Rossetti: It’s funny, we have hundreds of projects we have done and whenever they ask me what my favorite or more special is, this is always this project, not only because of its longevity, creativity and innovation, but also because the North -American Tennis Association (owner of the center) is never based on its heels. Its members always seek something innovative and different to differentiate it. In addition, [its managers] They are great people to work.
What do you think will be the most remarkable aspect of the project for fans?
It will certainly be the frontal entrance. About 90% of fans will not be able to experience clubs and suites, but they will notice an incredible change at the front entry: how it works and how it looks. At the walk level, we are doing a remake of all the spaces of retail, food, food and visualization of the campus. All this will be expanded and reformed.
What do you see as the most difficult aspects of the design?
All the premium we are introducing to the new clubs goes into spaces that used to be outdoors. How do we turn something like this into part in the interior, fully indoors and fully outdoors: a combination of entering and leaving, and where the systems stop and start with a fabulous fan experience?
The loads have been a design problem at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, built infamous in an old dump site. How did you play in the plan?
Most people will not see what is being done. Are three years of [total] Construction. The first year was simply to strengthen all the columns and structural elements that will bring a little of this additional load. At that time, there is an entire work value related to the entire structural infrastructure to manage all these changes. No one will see it, just do.
Which Ashe items needed more modernization?
The back of the house is tripling due to the amount of additional food service in the building. With an incredible amount of hospitality that must be taken into account, loading inside and out of the ice, refrigeration and vertical circulation of reaching the right places is key. This means that the back of the house was essential to solve not only for the food service, but also for the whole building. In addition, all the facilities of players and program spaces that were within the lower level of events move to the new player performance center. That was an important need.
Are there any design elements that are especially intrigued to see life?
The new front entrance elements will come out from the ground, located above the new television studios and will rise above the level of walk. Within the steel mesh, they will provide some shadow and an incredible point of view while giving the building an incredibly playful and contemporary presence that reflects the dynamics of the tennis game and a little wink in the history of the Unisphere structure. [still standing on the adjacent Flushing Meadows site that hosted the 1964 World’s Fair].
Is the front entry a collaborative process?
Yes we had a lot of fun with architect Daniel Libeskind [and Studio Libeskind]. They have been wonderful to work.
How do you see that this evolution merges with the history of the place?
We have created it as the third vernacular. We start with the earth cotta, with the blue and white color. Then we made the grandstand [stadium with additional buildings on site] And he created a new bricklayer with the courts of the South Square. It was the second iteration of a more contemporary appearance, a color palette and a design. With this new, we further branched to create a more contemporary style and palette that adapt to both the U.S. Open legacy and the energy of New York City.
Are you planning that construction will be mobilized in a frenzy in September?
Yes, it will be crazy. The mobilization you will see will be very intense and it will be very fun to see.
