CORONA — Here's a first look at the planned $550 million renovation to the National Tennis Center with a retractable roof built over the famed Arthur Ashe stadium, the addition of two new stadiums and a fan esplanade, the USTA announced Thursday.
The renovation — which sparked controversy among some members of the community, who viewed it as a land grab — funded through a mix of bonds and revenue, they said.
“We have an aggressive construction agenda for the entire National Tennis Center,” said Gordon Smith, the USTA Executive Director.
“We recognize there are many known, and certainly many unknown, hurdles we will have to confront to meet this schedule. We are ready for the challenge and hope we can achieve it.”
Renovations are scheduled to begin after the 2013 U.S. Open, and should be complete by 2018, Smith said.
The retractable roof — which will be made from a flexible, translucent fabric stretched over a steel frame — will be designed by Rossetti, who designed the original stadium.
It’s estimated cost is $100 million, according to the USTA, and will be built by Hunt Construction Group, who also built Barclays Center and Citi Field. It should be ready by 2017.
The enhancements will allow the site to accommodate an additional 10,000 people a day.
