WilkinsonEyre stand upgrade works at Lord’s

Article posted by Coliseum, April 26^th, 2023

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The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) recently announced that the London-based practice WilkinsonEyre has been appointed as the architect for the redevelopment of the Tavern and Allen stands at the Lord’s in London, England (UK).

‘Lord’s’ stated that the project is the latest in the program of facilities upgrades at the ‘Home of Cricket’, as the MCC continues to improve the matchday experience of MCC Members and visitors alike.

The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is a cricket club founded in 1787 and based since 1814 at the Lord’s Cricket Ground, which it owns, in St John’s Wood, London (UK). The club was formerly the governing body of cricket retaining considerable global influence.

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Eve Crotty-Joyce Technology Project Manager, Marylebone Cricket Club, UK, is a Member of Coliseum – Global Sports Venue Alliance.

The 31,100-capacity Lord’s Cricket Ground, commonly known as Lord’s, is a cricket venue in St John’s Wood, London (UK). Named after its founder, Thomas Lord, it is owned by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and is the home of the Middlesex County Cricket Club, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the European Cricket Council (ECC) and, until August 2005, the International Cricket Council (ICC). The Lord’s is widely referred to as the ‘Home of Cricket’ and is home to the world’s oldest sporting museum.

The Middlesex County Cricket Club is one of 18 first-class county clubs within the domestic cricket structure of England and Wales (UK). It represents the historic county of Middlesex which has effectively been subsumed within the ceremonial county of Greater London.

The England and Wales Cricket Board is the national governing body of cricket in England and Wales (UK). It was formed on January 1^st, 1997 as a single governing body to combine the roles formerly fulfilled by the Test and County Cricket Board, the National Cricket Association and the Cricket Council.

The European Cricket Council (ECC) is an international body which oversaw cricket in European countries other than the Test-playing cricketing nation of England, the only European Full Member of the ICC for the duration of the ECC’s existence.

Dubai (UAE)-based the International Cricket Council (ICC) is the global governing body of cricket. It was founded as the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909 by representatives from Australia, England and South Africa. It was renamed as the International Cricket Conference in 1965, and took up its current name in 1987.

The WilkinsonEyre is an international architecture practice based in London, England (UK). In 1983, Chris Wilkinson founded Chris Wilkinson Architects, he partnered with Jim Eyre in 1987 and the practice was renamed WilkinsonEyre in 1999.

‘Lord’s’ further stated that the Tavern Stand will be stripped back to its underlying steel framework, to enable the stand to be extended and completely rebuilt, while the smaller Allen Stand (parts of which date from the 1930s) will be demolished and a new building constructed in its place.

The appointment of WilkinsonEyre, which was made following a design competition, extends their successful working relationship with the MCC, established through the design and delivery of the Compton and Edrich stands. The largest construction project in the club’s history was completed for the 2021 cricket season and the resulting stands provide integrated facilities while increasing the seating capacity by 2,600.

With sustainability and inclusivity at the forefront of the redevelopment, the Compton and Edrich stands were recently the recipient of a coveted Civic Trust Award, given to projects that make an outstanding contribution to the quality and appearance of the built environment.

The Tavern and Allen stands are situated close to the principal Members’ entrance through the Grace Gate. As well as accommodating Members and guests, this sequence of buildings leads to the iconic Grade II*-listed Pavilion.

WilkinsonEyre’s design proposals will seek to enhance the sense of arrival at Lord’s while meeting a clear requirement to modernize and improve the facilities in this area of the Ground. The resulting stands will provide a harmonious new contribution in keeping with the existing architecture at the world-famous sporting venue.

Commented Robert Ebdon, MCC Estates Director, “After thorough architects’ tender process, we are delighted to be renewing our successful partnership with the team at WilkinsonEyre for our next ambitious project. The Tavern and Allen stands are much cherished by the Members. Redevelopment will greatly improve the accessibility of the stands, increase our seating capacity by approximately 1,000, provide more flexible hospitality with increased catering facilities, and will be vastly more sustainable.”

Said Jim Eyre, Founding Director at WilkinsonEyre, “We feel privileged to be commissioned to design the latest new structures at Lord’s. Our experience of designing the Compton and Edrich stands has given us a special insight and passion for working at such an historic ground, contributing to its continued success as a sporting venue in the best way that we are able.”

As well as WilkinsonEyre, the MCC will work with its principal consultants – Arcadis, Buro Happold and Gardiner & Theobold – over the course of the redevelopment project.

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