Ceremonial opening of famous tennis center built by JSC Stroytransgaz was held in Sokolniki

On December 7, Mr. Sergei Sobyanin, Moscow Mayor, and Mr. Dmitry Chernyshenko, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, visited the Spartak Academy tennis center in Sokolniki. JSC Stroytransgaz was engaged in full reconstruction of the complex.

Mr. Sergei Sobyanin, Moscow Mayor, Mr. Dmitry Chernyshenko, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Mr. Shamil Tarpishchev, President of the Russian Tennis Federation (photo: TVC )

The Moscow Mayor praised the role of the Public-Private Partnership in reconstruction of the fabulous sports complexes of the country and expressed special gratitude to investors, thanked the builders. 

Shamil Tarpishchev, Legend of the Soviet Tennis, President of the Russian Tennis Federation, Honoured Coach, Russian sports figure, took part in the ceremonial opening of the Spartak Academy tennis center, he invited investors to the stage and expressed special gratitude, together they opened the facility in a solemn ceremony. On behalf of Stroytransgaz Group of Companies the opening of the Tennis Center was witnessed by: G.N.  Timchenko, V.A. Lavlentzev, I.A. Zabiran, Kh.Sh. Ziabirov and other VIP-visitors. 

Spartak Academy is located in one of the largest and most visited parks in Moscow - Sokolniki, it is a multifunctional sports and recreation tennis complex designed to organize the training process of tennis players, amateur and professional competitions, and popular sports recreation.

Despite the pandemic and difficulties in sports activities, we keep up investment in construction of new sports facilities. A huge contribution to this movement is made by private investors who are building about 60% of all sports and recreation complexes in Moscow - ice arenas, tennis centers. Here, in Sokolniki, three private projects are being implemented at once. This is an Ice Center that was put into service last year, a Tennis Center that is being put into service now, and an Ice Palace that will be rebuilt starting as early as next year. So, all large sports facilities in Sokolniki will be new, implementing new technologies, conforming to new requirements, at a new level, ”said Mr. Sergei Sobyanin, Moscow Mayor.

In the words of Dmitry Chernyshenko, this is one of the best examples of public-private partnership for today. “This is, of course, a prominent facility. As you can see, it is built in accordance with all novel technologies and environmental requirements. We see exceptional conditions for new stars emersion in this historic place, where tennis was played already in tsarist times,” he said.

Photo: mos.ru

The cultural heritage site, where the global tennis stars trained - M. Sharapova, A. Kournikova, E. Kafelnikov, A. Myskina, M. Safin, E. Kulikovskaya, A. Chesnokov, N. Ozerov, S. Andreev, K. Borisova and others - was completely reconstructed and retrofitted in record time, in just 1 year and 5 months.

The reconstruction of the Center is distinct not only in its unique architectural concepts, but also in its nuts-and-bolts solutions, it was carried out in 4 phases: Phase 1 - rearrangement of 16 nos. outdoor courts, Phase 2 - construction of a shelter for 10 nos. courts, Phase 3 - construction of a unique shelter for 6 nos. clay courts, Phase 4 - construction of a tennis academy, a household building, arrangement of plumbing system, on-site utilities and roads. Utility networks - heating system, water supply, sewage, rain gullies - were re-laid around the complex.

The renovated tennis center will also be comfortable for limited mobility athletes. A barrier-free environment was created here: adapted access to the courts, special lockers, etc.

Photo: mos.ru

The historical landscape of Sokolniki Park and the direction of paths remained intact during construction. 

The architects tried to emphasize the intimate relationship of the complex with the surrounding park, so most of the court shelters are made of natural wood and transparent materials such as polycarbonate and glass. Wood-glued arched structures support a robust cellular polycarbonate roof that provides soft, gold-shaded daylight illumination inside buildings, creating a sense of comfort and space airiness.

Two state-of-the-art undulated shelters housing 6 nos. and 10 nos. courts are core facilities of the complex. The smooth shapes of structures create a sense of space. Shelter housing 6 nos. courts is considered a VIP area and is unique because an outdoor clay surface "net man" is used on indoor courts, there is no such thing in Russia.

Indoor courts are equipped with a security system, a modern ventilation and air conditioning system, and a special lighting equipment is installed to illuminate sports facilities, which meets all the requirements of sanitary codes of practice. 16 nos. outdoor tennis courts were completely upgraded and put into service in July 2019. Landscaping and planting of greenery is completed. In addition to the main facilities, a gym, playgrounds, workout areas, comfortable locker rooms for players and coaches, a VIP area with a sauna, a sports shop and a museum of tennis history were merged into the tennis club.

It is planned to train in the Tennis Center 275 pupils of the physical culture and sports association "Yunost Moskvy" (Moscow Youth) of the Moscow City Department for the Physical Culture and Sport, and to found proprietary tennis academy. Anyone can visit the sports complex when professional athletes are not trained on the courts. Thus, the tennis center will become a new point of attraction for residents of Sokolniki district and all fans of this sport.

Opening of the tennis center will be the final stage in creation of a new sports and recreation complex at the territory of Sokolniki Park. Stroytransgaz also built the Spartak Academy hockey center in Sokolniki, which was visited by top-level guests on December 7.

Photo: mos.ru