Construction of Two Indoor Tennis Courts in Montmélian, France
Customer Project
The local council of Montmélian, located about ten kilometers from Chambéry in Savoy, has decided to expand its range of sporting facilites by investing in this new indoor tennis court project. This shining perspective of light and the sun, originally inspired by the city's designation of "Solar Montmélian", symbolizes the heart of this project, highlighted by the maximum exploitation of natural light, which is composed of translucent polycarbonate sheets and photovoltaic panels covering 540m² of the facility.
Investor | City of Montmélian, France |
Architect | Agence Morin Rouchère, L'Haÿ-les-Roses |
Structural Design | CBS, Choisy-le-Roi |
Timber Frame | Lifteam, La Rochette |
Tennis Court Model Parameters
Model
Design Process
The structure is made of French glued-laminated timber, defined mainly by its essence and color, providing a soothing perspective of lightness. It contains two indoor tennis courts and a locker room area sheltered by timber frame walls.
The hall is built on shaft foundations connected by stringers supporting the isolated steel cladding and Trespa panels. The exterior carpentry is made of aluminum enhanced by insulating safety glazing; resin on asphalt was additionally used to establish the court's floor. The entire structure is coated by a sandwich panel covering system, brightened by solar panels and highlighted by a strip of translucent polycarbonate panels also acting as an efficient lighting source, providing natural daylight within the hall and throughout the playing areas.
One specific feature defining this project is the location of the tennis courts. Indeed, they are oriented within the load-bearing direction of the central frame, which stands as the prevailing aspect of the structure. The three-hinged frame is made of curved glued-laminated timber expanding over 37 m.
The frames, stabilized by the supporting purlins spreading over 18 m, efficiently abide by the constraints enacted within the building permit as well as within the French Tennis Federation regulations, which are detailed below; specifically, they require a free height of 7 m beneath the ceiling.
Technical Constraints
The sports management of the French Tennis Federation recommends a playing surface of 18 m x 36 m. This surface integrates the playing area, which is a rectangle with a length of 24 m and width of 11 m, as well as a setback of about 6 m behind each baseline and a clearance of about 3.50 m on each side to allow the players to hit the ball without hindrance.
The layout of the hall and its frame shape comply with the regulatory standards with an envelope of approximately 37 m x 37 m covering the two tennis courts with a clear height of 7 m.
Structural Design Software
RFEM software was used to carry out the structural design. The entire timber structure and the arched frame were designed according to Eurocode 5 using the RF‑TIMBER Pro add-on module.
The timber parts, bolts, and metal plates of the fastening of the central frame legs were designed with the RF‑JOINTS Timber - Steel To Timber add-on module.
The structure is an X-type building of the 5th category located in seismic zone 4 (medium). This required seismic design was performed using the add-on modules RF‑DYNAM Pro - Natural Vibrations and RF‑DYNAM Pro - Equivalent Loads.
The steel beams were designed according to Eurocode 3 using the RF‑STEEL EC3 add-on module.
Project Location
Montmélian, FranceKeywords
Timber structure RFEM RF-TIMBER Pro RF-JOINTS
Write Comment...
Write Comment...
Contact Us
Do you have any further questions or need advice? Contact us via phone, email, chat or forum or find suggested solutions and useful tips on our FAQ page, available 24/7.

New
Evaluating and Documenting Steel Joints Analysis Results in RFEM 6
With the RFEM 6 add-on Steel Joints, you can analyze steel connections by using an FE model. This article demonstrates how to evaluate and document the steel joints analysis results.

New
- The design of the connection components is performed according to Eurocode EN 1993-1-8
- After activating the Add-on, the design situations for Steel Connections must be activated in the "Load cases and Combinations" dialog box
- For the design of the connection stability (Buckling), it is necessary to have the Add-on Structure Stability activated
- The calculation can be started via the table or via the icon in the top bar
-
How do I set a release for warping?
- How can I define a warping spring or a warping restraint?
- At which point on a cross-section are the supports and loads assumed for the calculation with warping torsion?
- The limit stress is activated, but my stress ratio is “non-designable” in the Stress-Strain Analysis add-on. What could be the reason?
- How can I deactivate the 7th degree of freedom for certain members or cross-sections only?
- How can I define a warping spring or a warping restraint?