Shanghai Qizhong Tennis Center: The Stadium Roof That “Blooms” in 15 Minutes

A landmark of sports architecture in Shanghai, the Qizhong Tennis Center combines a magnolia-inspired retractable roof, advanced steel engineering, and a vision for a world-class tennis destination.

Every October, the lights illuminate Shanghai's Qizhong Tennis Center, its approximately 15,000 seats fill with spectators, and tennis fans focus on powerful serves, spectacular rallies, and aces. Yet above the court lies another masterpiece worth examining: a retractable roof that can transform from a fully enclosed structure into an open-air stadium in approximately 15 minutes.

Inspired by the blooming white magnolia, Shanghai's city flower, the roof is more than an architectural statement. It is an impressive integration of structural steel engineering, mechanical systems, and modern stadium design.

Located in Maqiao Town, Minhang District, Shanghai, the Shanghai Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center is one of China's notable tennis venues. Its central stadium, also known as Court 1, was designed in 2003 and completed in 2005.

Designed by Shanghai Institute of Architectural Design and Research Co., Ltd., the main stadium covers nearly 40,000 square meters. The building rises approximately 40 meters above ground and accommodates around 15,000 spectators across four above-ground floors.

The venue received the Seventh China Civil Engineering Zhan Tianyou Award in 2007, recognizing its architectural and engineering achievements.

Key Project Facts

Project: Shanghai Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center

Location: Maqiao Town, Minhang District, Shanghai, China

Design: 2003

Completion: 2005

Main Stadium Area: Nearly 40,000 m²

Spectator Capacity: Approximately 15,000

Architectural Designer: Shanghai Institute of Architectural Design and Research Co., Ltd.

Award: Seventh China Civil Engineering Zhan Tianyou Award, 2007

The stadium's defining feature is its retractable roof, composed of eight enormous petal-shaped sections inspired by the white magnolia.

Each petal covers nearly 2,000 square meters and weighs approximately 200 metric tons. With a radial length of 72 meters, a width of 48 meters, and a cantilever extending 61.5 meters toward the center, each section represents a substantial structural engineering challenge.

The roof's design combines architectural symbolism with demanding technical requirements. Its original configuration incorporated aluminum roof panels on the upper surface and a membrane layer beneath. Subsequent upgrades have introduced a steel-and-PTFE membrane roof system, further developing the relationship between structural performance and architectural expression.

During the day, the roof's translucent qualities help shape the stadium's natural lighting. At night, its illuminated surfaces contribute to the venue's distinctive appearance.

The result is a structure that functions as both an engineering system and the stadium's most recognizable architectural feature.

Unlike conventional retractable roofs that rely primarily on linear movement, Qizhong's roof uses a rotating mechanism.

Each of the eight petals rotates approximately 45 degrees in plan around a fixed pivot, guided by three concentric circular tracks. Eight drive systems operate under coordinated computer control, allowing the roof to transition between its enclosed and open configurations in approximately 15 minutes.

When fully opened, the roof creates an opening of more than 7,000 square meters, transforming the central court into an outdoor tennis venue.

Supporting this complex mechanism is a massive W-shaped spatial ring beam, approximately 123 meters in diameter, 24 meters wide, and 7 meters high. Constructed from large-diameter steel pipes with intersecting welded connections, the ring beam weighs more than 1,800 metric tons.

Below it, the reinforced-concrete main structure incorporates a circular ring with radial prestressing.

The principal challenge is not simply supporting the roof's enormous weight. As the petals rotate, wind loads, support reactions, and structural deformation change with the opening angle. The structural system must therefore maintain reliable load distribution and controlled deformation throughout the roof's different operating configurations.

This combination of long cantilevers, coordinated mechanical movement, and large-scale steel construction makes the stadium an especially interesting example of retractable-roof engineering.

The retractable roof gives the venue two distinct identities.

When closed, the stadium functions as an enclosed indoor venue. When opened, it becomes an open-air tennis court, allowing the sporting experience to respond to weather and environmental conditions.

This flexibility also influences the building's ventilation, air conditioning, smoke extraction, and daylighting strategies. Zoned mechanical systems and natural light through the glazed façade help accommodate the different requirements of the stadium's operating modes.

For stadium designers and developers, the project demonstrates an important principle: a retractable roof is not merely a moving architectural feature. It affects the entire building, including structural design, mechanical and electrical systems, operational planning, maintenance, and spectator comfort.

Successful implementation requires close coordination between architects, structural engineers, mechanical specialists, steel fabricators, and construction teams.

Since opening in 2005, Qizhong Tennis Center has developed alongside Shanghai's international tennis profile. The venue hosted the Tennis Masters Cup and subsequently became the home of the Shanghai Masters, an ATP Masters 1000 tournament.

The wider development continues to evolve. During 2025–2026, renovation and expansion initiatives have included improvements to Court 2, the development of a new 1,200-seat stand at Court 17, and ongoing upgrades to the retractable roof and supporting facilities.

Shanghai's sports development strategy also looks beyond the stadium itself. Shanghai Jiushi Sports is advancing a vision for a tennis-oriented district spanning approximately 25 square kilometers, often described as a "Tennis Town."

Under this concept, the stadium serves as the anchor for a broader sports ecosystem integrating competition venues, supporting facilities, commercial activities, and urban development.

The long-term objective is to create a destination where professional tennis, sports tourism, and urban life reinforce one another.

The Qizhong Tennis Center offers several valuable lessons for sports facility developers, stadium contractors, and engineering teams.

First, architectural identity can drive structural innovation. The magnolia-inspired roof demonstrates how a distinctive design concept can become the organizing principle of an entire structural and mechanical system.

Second, retractable roofs require integrated engineering. Large moving structures demand careful analysis of changing loads, mechanical synchronization, structural deformation, weather conditions, and operational safety.

Third, flexibility extends a venue's functionality. A stadium that can operate in both enclosed and open-air configurations offers greater adaptability for sporting events and different environmental conditions, although the benefits must be balanced against construction, maintenance, and operating costs.

Finally, long-term stadium planning goes beyond the main structure. Renovations, spectator seating, auxiliary courts, circulation systems, and surrounding infrastructure all contribute to the venue's ability to support major sporting events over time.

For companies involved in stadium construction, grandstand systems, steel structures, spectator seating, and integrated sports facility solutions, projects of this scale highlight the importance of coordinating individual components within the requirements of the complete venue.

The Shanghai Qizhong Tennis Center is memorable not only for the tennis played inside it, but also for the extraordinary structure above it.

Eight enormous petals rotate in coordination, transforming a closed stadium into an open-air arena in approximately 15 minutes. Beneath this striking movement lies a sophisticated system of steel ring beams, long cantilevers, mechanical drives, and structural supports.

More than two decades after the venue opened, its architectural concept continues to illustrate how engineering innovation can shape the identity and functionality of a major sports facility.

The next time spectators look up at Qizhong, the roof deserves a moment of attention. It turns the image of a blooming magnolia into a precisely coordinated machine-and demonstrates how sports architecture can combine visual poetry with engineering ambition.

Author Profile: SMART GROUP - Global Sports Facility Solution Provider