Real Tennis
Case Study - Middlesex
MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY REAL TENNIS CLUB
Middlesex University Real Tennis Club, The Burroughs, Hendon, London NW4 4BT.
Court built as an integral part of Burroughs Sports Club on Middlesex University campus.
Key Dates
- Start of process: 1997
- Opening of court: October 1999
Key People
- Project Champion: Peter Luck-Hille
- Other Key Individuals: John Lawton (Launch brochure); David Kirby and Martin Hadland of Middlesex University.
Design and Construction
- Architect: Pringle Richards Sharratt (Ian Sharratt)
- Consulting Engineer: Battle McCarthy
- Quantity Surveyor: Dobson White Boulcott
- Main Contractor: James Longley & Co
- “Retaining the best features of more traditional courts whilst, at the same time, introducing modern materials and technology”
- Floor: Floated concrete with methacrylate finish; Wirsbro under-floor heating system
- Walls: Reinforced concrete (300mm/C40) in 5m sections with Armourcoat plaster finish
- Penthouses: Timber and Maranti plywood, supported by inverted steel T section
- Roof: Glazed elliptical roof (Kal-Zip aluminium) with management system for shadow-free light (Kalwall translucent panels) and ventilation
- Lighting: 1500 lux at floor level
- Access: Double doors at Hazard end
- Other features: Digital video system for recording and training; electronic scoreboard; viewing from main wall gallery
Cost Summary
£1.5m approximately. Estimated current cost - £2.7m
- Court Construction and Fitting Out: £950k
- Reception Area, Professionals’ office and Changing rooms: £300k
- Professionals Fees: 250k
- VAT: Nil (due to Main Contractor error; University paid ultimately)
Funding
Luck-Hille Foundation
What would you do differently?
- Timber ledges for galleries rather than Armourcoat finishes since these kept chipping
- Eight-sided timber posts for galleries in place of round steel posts
Current Status
- Club Membership: 100 Full; 35 Country; 10 individual Junior plus approximately 10 p.a. under an agreement with the Middlesex University; 125 Social
- Active Players: 75
- Court Occupancy: < 50%
Note: For further information, please refer to the MURTC / WRTC Update within the Technical Reports section of the website.
Peter Luck-Hille/Chris Bray/RAD, October 2019