CARRARA GARDENS TENNIS ACADEMY – Gold Coast, Australia

Cactus and Hill Architects, together with Shiro Architects were appointed to providea Landscape Master Plan and Landscape Architecture service for the CarraraGardens Tennis Academy. The new development boasts a wide range of sportingand recreational facilities including a new Outdoor Tennis Centre. Unique tosoutheast Queensland, the Tennis Centre includes twenty clay tennis courts,importing the finest quality clay from Italy. In addition there are also eight full sizeand one half size concrete tennis courts that required surfacing using MAPEI’sMapecoat TNS Cushion System.

Mapecoat TNS Cushion is a medium-elasticity, multi-layered system made fromacrylic resin in water dispersion with special fillers used to make playing surfacessuitable for professional-level tennis with high resistance to wear, UV rays and variousweather conditions. Mapecoat TNS Cushion can be applied on existing paintedsurfaces or on new cementitious or asphalt surfaces.

Norm East Sports Surfaces were awarded the contract and enlisted the assistanceof MAPEI to not only supply the products required for the success of the MapecoatTNS Cushion System, but also to assist with on-site technical and installation advice.

The project commenced with the application of Mapecoat I 600 W primer overthe concrete base. Mapecoat I 600 W would ensure a perfectly sound substratefor the application of the subsequent Mapecoat TNS Cushion System. Once theprimer completely dried a coat of Mapecoat TNS White Base Coat was applied tothe 5501m2 surface. This process was followed by five coats of Mapecoat TNSGrey Base Coat creating the cushion base for the tennis courts. A coat ofMapecoat TNS Finish 1 was applied followed by two coats of Mapecoat TNS Finish3 which gave the tennis courts the desired speed as specified by the client. Thiscompleted the tennis court installation and once completely dry the white linemarking was created using Mapei’s Mapecoat TNS Line White product.

Norm East and his contractors completed a total of eight full size and one half sizecourts using this Mapecoat TNS Cushion System with outstanding results. WhenMapecoat TNS Cushion is applied on surfaces it forms a semi-elastic playingsurface that has excellent playing comfort and performance characteristics suchas perfect bounce of the ball, quick, safe change in direction and an excellentcompromise between balance and slide for players.

The Carrara Gardens Tennis Centre has already hosted the SpecialOlympics for tennis and will be enjoyed by social and professional tennisplayers alike.

Aerial photos of Carrara Gardens Sports Complex during construction

Below is the application diary for the completion of the first 4 courts

Day 1: Priming of the first 2 courts with ‘Mapecoat I 600 W Primer’ (Concrete Substrate)

Day 1: Apply ‘Mapecoat TNS White Base Coat’ to the first 2 courts

Day 2: Priming of the second 2 courts with ‘Mapecoat I 600 W Primer’

Day 2: Apply ‘Mapecoat TNS White Base Coat’ to the second 2 courts (First Coat)

Day 3: Apply ‘Mapecoat TNS Grey Base Coat’ to all 4 courts (Second Coat)

Day 4: Apply ‘Mapecoat TNS Grey Base Coat’ to all 4 courts (Third Coat)

Day 5: Apply ‘Mapecoat TNS Grey Base Coat’ to all 4 courts (Fourth Coat)

Day 6: Apply ‘Mapecoat TNS Grey Base Coat’ to all 4 courts (Fifth Coat)

Day 7: Apply ‘Mapecoat TNS Grey Base Coat’ to all 4 courts (Sixth Coat)

Day 8: Apply ‘Mapecoat TNS Finish 1 Colour 22’ to all 4 courts (First Coat)

Day 9: Apply ‘Mapecoat TNS Finish 3 Colour 22’ to all 4 courts centres (Second Coat)

Day 10: Apply ‘Mapecoat TNS Finish 3 Colour 22’ to all 4 courts centres (Third Coat)

Day 11: Apply ‘Mapecoat TNS Finish 3 Colour 15’ to perimeter of all 4 courts (First Coat)

Day 12: Apply ‘Mapecoat TNS Finish 3 Colour 15’ to perimeter of all 4 courts (Second Coat)

Day 13: Apply ‘Mapecoat TNs Finish 3 Colour 15’ to perimeter of all 4 courts (Third Coat)

Day 14: Apply ‘Mapecoat TNS White Line’ to all 4 courts