Culford School

Key facts 

• 37.5m x 67.2m x 9.8m
• Grade I listed park
• Conservation area
• 600 lux lighting
• Height restrictions
• LTA approved

Project overview

Culford School is set in 480 acres of Suffolk parkland with an 18^th Century mansion at it’s centre.  As well as providing a 1^st class academic education, a strong emphasis has always been placed on sport and this is reflected in their ambition to offer one of the finest tennis programmes in the UK.

We were briefed to design an indoor tennis facility that would meet certain LTA criteria allowing them to run bespoke, personalised coaching programmes in accordance with their athlete development plan.  The design also had to meet planning criteria and restrictions for building in a conservation area are notoriously strict.

Our structure could not come within 3m of the boundary wall or exceed 9.8m in height but we still managed to come up with a unique solution that could house four championship courts and two standard, covered by a single skin 

With all fixtures and fittings also required to meet LTA standards, the school’s tennis facilities are outstanding (in our humble opinion) and have enabled the school to achieve recognition as an LTA Accredited Local Player Development Centre and Regional Player Development Centre.  The school has most recently been ranked as the number two boys’ and number three girls’ school in Great Britain by the LTA.

As well as being able to provide a top-flight tennis education now, the facilities are open to the public outside of school hours and during the holidays, which provides an additional income for the school and significantly benefits the local community.