DESIGNWORKS 2023

Charleston Tennis LLC Credit One Stadium

Charleston, SC

LS3P, Charleston

This extensive stadium renovation and expansion creates the ultimate venue for refined revelry; a world-class tennis stadium that transitions to an elite entertainment venue.

The design team was challenged to transform an aging stadium into a world-class venue that elevates the experiences of athletes, performers, and patrons alike. Home to the largest women-only tennis tournament in North America and one of the largest concert venues in the area, the stadium required design solutions to accommodate diverse users. Amenity spaces needed to be luxurious enough to compete with those of the Grand Slam tournaments around the world in order to draw top competitors year after year. Support spaces needed to be versatile enough to transition from a media broadcast to a full-scale concert. The team needed to consider how each space would be used and curate an aesthetic that could evolve from day to night; bright, airy environments are favorable for day tennis, shifting to a subdued aesthetic which is keenly focused on center court by night. Finishes and fixtures needed to be durable enough for large events, yet elegant enough to create an intimate escape.

In addition to design services for the interior upfit, the design team worked closely with a local artisan to create the custom wall feature that serves as the tennis court backdrop, and designed finishes and colors for the stadium exterior including the pixelated design of the stadium seats.

The solution is a unique venue providing a world-class tennis experience for players and patrons during the day that transitions to a music mecca in the evening.

The Club Level is nestled in the treetops, and framed views to the rear of the stadium (almost) steal the show from the activity on the courts with Spanish moss and a verdant tree canopy. The design seeks to brings the outside in, connecting with both the stadium interior and the landscape. Deep green accents inside the space coordinate with the pixelated pattern of the stadium seats, from the vibrant acoustic moss installations to the paler green tiles of the bar surround. The design struck a datum line above which everything was painted a rich green – a cost-effective way to create a more intimate scale within the space – while dimensional wood paneling and ceiling accents add warmth.

The Players Lounge provides a place of respite for athletes and coaches. Here, they can connect with the Lowcountry landscape with treehouse-like views. A soft color palette and sound-absorbing materials provide an additional level of tranquility.

Private suites are framed by custom wood slat ceilings and wall features that glow with warm light in the evening. A large, central island creates a gathering hub for patrons, or they can spill out to the patio through large accordion glass doors allowing premier viewing and sound control to both tennis and concertgoers. Here the design also introduces an innovative flooring type called polished tabby – a terrazzo-like flooring that incorporates local oyster shells.

The design team drew inspiration from the abstraction of a tennis ball and racquet. A circular motif is subtly woven into every space through arches, light fixtures, tile patterns, and wall textures. Utilizing a restrained color palette, the various program areas are defined by aesthetic changes in the texture and pattern of materials, furnishings, and custom art installations.