Work has started on the retractable roof over the Suzanne-Lenglen court at Roland-Garros in Paris, with the project being launched ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic games. The roof will offer a mobile protection device to the second biggest tennis court (10,000 seats) of the Roland-Garros stadium.

As a leader of an advisory team, Mott MacDonald has been appointed by the French Tennis Federation to work on the modernisation of the tennis complex. The company’s Paris team will manage the operation to ensure its success in terms of planning, cost and expected quality. The work includes feasibility and scoping, procurement advisory, project management and technical advisory.

Designed by French architect Dominique Perrault, the works will be led by Renaudat Center Constructions through a design and build contract for a total amount of approximately €45m. The project will use approximately 50% recycled steel on approximately 1,000 tonnes of material and have a 370 m² photovoltaic panel.

Mott MacDonald’s project director, Jean-Sébastien Voisin, said: “I am very excited to be working on the iconic Roland-Garros Stadium. This project will enable the organisation of the Olympic and Paralympic games events and mean fans will enjoy the tennis in all weather for years to come.”  

Works are being planned around the two next Roland-Garros tournaments in 2022 and 2023 to ensure the ongoing availability of the Suzanne Lenglen court. The work is scheduled to be finished by December 2023.