Bowled over: new stands elevate the view at Lord’s

Project: Compton & Edrich Stands, Lord's Cricket Ground

Award: Leisure, Silver, 2022

Location: London, UK

Architect: WilkinsonEyre

Client: Marylebone Cricket Club

The global home of cricket has become almost as renowned for its distinctive architecture as its sticky wickets. The striking new Compton & Edrich Stands at Lord’s only cement its reputation for first class design. Sitting either side of the iconic Stirling Prize winning media centre, and echoing its curved shape, the stands each have a canopy roof and deliver an improved spectator experience for cricket fans, as well as upgrading capacity. 
At 24 metres high, and featuring three tiers, they are now the tallest stands at Lord’s. 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. Both stands are designed to be open and spacious, with clear open stairs, access walkways and wayfinding, improving accessibility and crowd circulation.

Design highlights

An elevated walkway runs behind the media centre, linking into the Mound and Grandstands either side and providing a great vantage point over the Nursery Ground and of spectators milling about on big match days. The stands also have wheelchair accessible seats, facilities and lift access at all levels. They also house two restaurants, 12 additional food and drink outlets and bathroom facilities.

Photo credits: Lord's MCC