Compton & Edrich Stands, Lord's Cricket Ground

The Compton & Edrich Stands at Lord’s Cricket Ground, London, deliver two new distinctive architectural structures, significantly expanding capacity at the world-renowned sporting venue. The stands, designed with structural engineers Buro Happold, deliver greatly improved sightlines and spectator experience for cricket fans, as well as upgrading capacity, accessibility, and amenities at the country’s largest cricket venue. The new Compton and Edrich stands sit either side of the iconic Media Centre at the famous Nursery End of the Ground. They feature a canopy roof, integrated facilities, and an elevated walkway at the back of the stands to improve crowd flow. At 24m high, they are now the tallest stands at the venue, featuring three tiers to elevate the spectator perspective in line with Lord’s reputation as simultaneously the ‘village green’ and internationally recognised premier cricket sporting ground. They allow unrivalled views of the field of play and panoramic views beyond the ground across London. The stands offer an additional 2,500 seats, increasing the Ground’s overall capacity to 31,500. The majority of the 11,500 seats fitted have been re-used from the previous stands to mitigate waste, and all offer unrestricted views. The stands also have wheelchair accessible seats, facilities and lift access at all levels. Additionally, for the first time, they also house two restaurants, 12 additional food and drink outlets and washroom facilities. The new stands form an integral part of a masterplan to revitalise the ground and broaden cricket’s appeal to a wider base as the seats are available to the general public, not just MCC members. The canopy is made up of a combination of white-painted radiating steel ribs, a visible timber supporting shell on the underside and a white fabric skin. Its design provides a subtle contrast to the futuristic, aluminium J.P. Morgan Media Centre, while corresponding to the tent-like forms of the Mound Stand’s fabric roof, alluding to a sporting typology. The original white and grey seating is set in light grey concrete terracing, divided by glazed bands which mark out the premier seating and restaurants and the J.P. Morgan hospitality suites, echoing the Grand Stand and Mound Stand elevation. Both stands are designed to be open and spacious, with clear open stairs, access walkways and wayfinding, improving accessibility and crowd circulation. A bridge connects the two main hospitality lounges, linking the stands for the first time, while introducing impressive dual aspect views of the pitch and Nursery Ground. A permeable two-storey arcade opens up the stands’ outward facing elevations. Together the stands improve the east facing frontage of the Ground and present a new identity from the North and East Gate entrances which are the main arrival points for crowds on match days. Delivered during the difficult circumstances of the pandemic, the stands were finished in time to be used through the major international test matches of 2021 and have been well received by the club and spectators as vastly improving facilities for the general public at the global “Home of Cricket”.