The revitalized center celebrates and displays a new era of tennis in San Francisco’s beloved public park.
Situated prominently within the verdant landscape of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, the Lisa & Douglas Goldman Tennis Center (GTC) serves the city’s diverse population of tennis players—from students to enthusiasts and beyond. The completion of the new GTC was spurred by members of the local tennis community and the Tennis Coalition SF, united by the love of the sport and collective experience of playing in the park. The group sought to rebuild the ageing courts, update the dark and disconnected post-war clubhouse structure and dramatically improve court lighting. With the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department and the San Francisco Parks Alliance playing a critical leadership role, GTC is now a world-class facility capable of not only hosting competitive play, but also welcoming a wide swath of the San Francisco population including underserved communities. Designed by EHDD with early design input from HGA, the GTC celebrates and displays a new era of tennis in the public park.
Central to the GTC is the 7,800-square-foot Taube Family Clubhouse, a vibrant community hub that serves as the main site access for the center and gateway to the game of tennis. The design and placement of the clubhouse and courts help to create a “reveal” moment when visitors walk through the entrance gateway. Immediately, visitors are immersed in the game of tennis by looking out onto the sunken tournament court and are surrounded by accents that nod to the sport throughout the clubhouse.
In total, the more than four-acre complex comprises:
- 16 United States Tennis Association (USTA) regulation courts, including a sunken stadium-style court
- Five multi-use mini courts for mini tennis, family play and pickleball
- The Taube Family Clubhouse including:
- A community lounge
- A covered viewing terrace
- A recreation room
- A comprehensive tennis pro-shop
- The Koret Teaching and Learning Center complete with its own entrance, classroom space, separate kitchen and access to both the recreation room and garden
- Supporting spaces such as a dedicated reception area, administrative offices, a conference room, locker rooms and showers and a community kitchen
The GTC was designed to stand as a destination in its own right, alongside iconic cultural landmarks such as the California Academy of Sciences, de Young Museum, San Francisco Botanical Garden and SF Conservatory of Flowers—all of which are within walking distance. The facility incorporates its own cultural artifacts as well, such as the indoor lenticular exhibit wall and the outdoor ceramic tile mural that is a stunning constellation of tennis imagery.
Designed to accommodate change over its lifespan, the new center also serves as an instrument for change by making tennis equitable and accessible to the entire San Francisco community. The facility is also home to a tennis and tutoring program for middle schoolers.
