at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London

Location London, UK

Client / operator Marylebone Cricket Club Architects WilkinsonEyre UK – EC1R OBJ London www.wilkinsoneyre.com Structural engineers Buro Happold www.burohappold.com Author WilkinsonEyre Photos Hufton+Crow, Clare Adams, Jed Leicester, WilkinsonEyre Official opening September 2021 Construction costs GBP 48 million (EUR 57.5 million)

ELEVATED SPECTATOR EXPERIENCE

REDESIGN OF THE COMPTON AND EDRICH STANDS AT LORD’S CRICKET GROUND IN LONDON

The redeveloped Compton and Edrich Stands directly replace the previous stands, which had restricted sightlines in the lower tiers and left spectators exposed in the upper tiers. In terms of sustainability, as well as incorporating seating retained from the demolished stands, WilkinsonEyre’s design has incorporated the concrete structure and terracing of the old stands, crushed and used as the piling mat for the new stands, so that minimal demolition material was removed from the site. The design also expands the groundsource heating capacity.

The new stands form an integral part of the owner’s of Lord’s, Marylebone Cricket Club’s, plans to future-proof the ground. The stands, designed with structural engineers Buro Happold, deliver greatly improved sightlines and an enhanced spectator experience for cricket fans, as well as upgrading capacity, accessibility and amenities. The new Compton and Edrich stands sit either side of the media centre at the famous Nursery End of the ground. They feature a canopy roof, integrated facilities and an elevated walkway facing the Nursery Ground that connects the two new stands and link into the Mound and Grand Stands. At 24 m high, they are now the tallest

stands at the venue, allowing unrivalled views of the field of play and featuring three tiers that elevate the spectator experience.

Increased capacity and accessibility The stands provide an additional 2,600 seats, increasing the ground’s overall capacity to 31,180. Half of the 11,600 seats fitted have been re-used from the previous stands to mitigate waste. The stands also have wheelchair-accessible positions, facilities and lift access at all levels. Additionally, for the first time, they also house two pitch-facing restaurants, two hospitality suites, twelve additional food-anddrink outlets and integrated washroom facilities.

The design concept of the stands is in keeping with both the historic and contemporary architectural context of the venue. The stands form part of an overall composition that includes the iconic Grade II*-listed Pavilion, the J.P. Morgan

Media Centre, the Grand, Mound and Warner Stands, with each stand presenting a clear expression of the engineering principles behind it.

Subtle curvature The steel mainframe of the new stands features large identifiable columns and double-height colonnades, which reference the rhythms of the original brick arches of the adjacent Mound Stand arcade, while the roof canopies complement the subtle curvature and form of the design while creating a distinctive silhouette.

The canopy is made up of a combination of white-painted radiating steel ribs, a visible timber supporting shell on the underside and a white fabric skin. Its design provides a subtle contrast to the futuristic, aluminium media centre, while corresponding to the tent-like forms of the Mound Stand’s fabric roof, alluding to a sporting typology. The

original white and grey seating is set in light-grey concrete terracing, divided by glazed bands which mark out the premier seating and restaurants and the hospitality suites, echoing the Grand Stand and Mound Stand elevation.

Linking the stands for the first time Both stands are designed to be open and spacious, with clear open stairs, access walkways and wayfinding, improving accessibility and crowd circulation. A bridge connects the two main hospitality lounges, linking the stands for the first time, while introducing impressive dual-aspect views of the pitch and Nursery Ground. A permeable two-storey arcade opens up the stands’ outward-facing elevations. Together the stands improve the east-facing frontage of the ground and present a new identity from the North and East Gate entrances.