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Many of the world’s best professional tennis players including Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Patrick Rafter, Venus Williams and Monica Seles are competing this week in the prestigious Newsweek Champions Cup, the inaugural event at the new 100-acre, $75 million Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Clark Construction Group, LLC recently completed this premier tournament tennis center in Indian Wells, Calif., for IMG (one of the world’s leading sports management firms with clients including Tiger Woods and Pete Sampras) and PM Sports Management of Indian Wells.
“Because of this annual event, we couldn’t afford to delay the schedule. It always impressed me that Clark’s people knew where the job stood at all times and managed the schedule very successfully,” said J. David Hunter, Vice President, IMG, and owner’s representative on the project.
Designed by Rossetti Associates Architects of Santa Monica, Calif., the Indian Wells Tennis Garden seats over 16,000 fans in the main stadium and offers the modern amenities expected by the world’s top players and today’s sports fans. Fans enjoy clear views regardless of where they sit because of the unique design featuring three levels of seating: lower bowl, suites and upper bowl. Forty-four suites are located on two levels with five large suites with space for 148 people featuring individual restaurants, bars and restrooms. One show-court holds 5,000, a clubhouse court seats 3,000 fans, while 12 sunken courts accommodate approximately 500 each. A seven-acre hospitality village area and surrounding parking lots provide space for 6,000 cars with a tunnel leading fans from the parking lots to a central plaza and the center court.
In addition to excellent court conditions, athletes can access a wide array of amenities including a child-care center, racket-stringing room, fitness facility, hair salon, laundry room, and a special quiet room for players to gather before and after matches. The facility also offers players an extensive training complex, locker rooms, and a pro shop available for year-round use.
The stadium’s design complements the picturesque mountain setting with concourses finished in a desert style with stucco, painted burnished block and ceramic tile. A large landscaping package included extensive use of desert flora and fauna throughout. An additional 50 acres adjacent to the site are available for commercial, retail and hotel use.
In addition to Clark and the architect, the project team included Englekirk & Sabol Consulting Engineers, Inc. of Los Angeles, Calif., structural engineer; and M-E Engineers/Hayakawa Associates of Los Angeles, mechanical/electrical/plumbing engineers. Richard Oliphant of Palm Desert, Calif. and David Hunter with IMG served as the owner’s representatives. Tom Chema of Cleveland, Ohio, served as development consultant to the owner.
The project was managed by Clark Construction’s Southern California regional office located in Irvine.
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