Jiangsu Lingtong Exhibition Tent Co., Ltd.

Client Background

The client is a commercial sports operator in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, originally running outdoor pickleball courts. As pickleball rapidly gained popularity in Southeast Asia, the original facilities suffered from intense heat and frequent thunderstorms, resulting in significant customer loss. They required transforming the original outdoor site into an enclosed indoor arena using an outdoor pickleball court tent as the structural solution. This upgrade created an all-weather, architecturally appealing space that would attract cross-border customers from Singapore and local high-end consumers.

Client Needs and Challenges

Tropical Climate and Tight Schedule

Johor Bahru has a tropical rainforest climate with heavy rainfall. The client demanded delivery and operation within 60 days of finalizing the design, which traditional civil construction could not achieve.

Transparency and Heat Insulation

Rejecting oppressive enclosed factories, the client wanted a modern glass architectural feel with natural daylight, while the roof needed to effectively block the tropical heat and reduce cooling costs.

Tournament-Grade Flooring and Anti-Glare

The flooring required professional slip resistance and shock absorption for knees. The lighting system had to be strictly anti-glare to prevent interference with players' vision.

Column Protection and Spatial Isolation

With multiple courts running simultaneously, protective covers were essential for the column bases, along with safety isolation nets between the courts.

Solution

LINGTONG TENT designed a curved sports tent with a 40m span and 65m length, covering approximately 2600㎡. This structure is far more than a canopy; it is a fully functional professional indoor sports hall.

Structure and Enclosure

The main frame uses high-strength aluminium alloy with a curved roof design. The perimeter features floor-to-ceiling tempered glass walls with white aluminium frames, providing high transparency, sound insulation, and a modern commercial aesthetic. A white decorative inner roof lining was added for a clean look and better light reflection.

Foundation and Safety Protection

A reinforced concrete strip foundation with embedded heavy-duty anchor bolts secures the columns. Custom green base kick covers were installed at the bottom of the columns, neatly concealing the flanges and protecting the structure from accidental racket or player impacts.

Flooring and Internal Isolation

The site features professional two-tone (green/blue) sports elastic flooring (high-elasticity silicone PU/self-leveling polyurethane) with excellent anti-wear, anti-slip, and shock-absorbing performance. Full sets of black wire mesh isolation nets separate the courts, ensuring strict zoning and safety.

Lighting and Anti-Glare System

Dark, independent high-mast multi-head LED sports floodlights (4.5m–6m height) are angled downward. Combined with the diffuse reflection of the white roof lining, the venue achieves a commercial tournament-level illuminance of 500 to 750 Lux, completely avoiding glare.

Product Information

Implementation Process

The project started in early 2024. The LINGTONG team worked closely with the client and local contractors to confirm the foundation plan. All frames, glass walls, and inner linings were prefabricated at the factory and shipped to Malaysia. On-site, simultaneous operations were adopted: while workers applied and cured the polyurethane self-leveling flooring, the electrical team installed the high-mast lights and isolation nets alongside the frame assembly. The entire project was completed and delivered within 60 days, just before the rainy season peak.

Final Results and Client Feedback

The modern pickleball hall caused a sensation locally upon opening. The full glass curtain wall provides excellent visibility, while the uniform anti-glare lighting allows every court to meet professional tournament standards at night. The new facility not only retained old customers but also attracted a massive influx of Singaporean players crossing the border to book courts, keeping the venue fully booked daily. The client stated that the solution perfectly solved the all-weather operating pain point in the tropical climate, with construction speed and cost far superior to traditional buildings.

Client Feedback

Summary

This project demonstrates the immense potential of large sports tents in the commercial upgrade of sports facilities. LINGTONG TENT created a 2600㎡ all-weather international standard pickleball hall in Malaysia through a 40m clear-span curved structure, floor-to-ceiling glass walls, green kick covers, and tournament-grade lighting and flooring. This solution breaks the schedule and cost limitations of traditional construction, bringing outdoor sports into a premium indoor commercial environment.

Supplementary Notes

This case study is based on an indoor pickleball club project in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. In tropical Southeast Asia, extreme heat and frequent rain heavily impact outdoor sports. Using curved aluminium tents combined with glass curtain walls creates a large column-free sports space while providing excellent rain protection, heat insulation, and natural daylight. The structures can be customized with anti-glare lighting, professional sports flooring, kick covers, and isolation nets, making them highly suitable for pickleball, tennis, basketball, and other high-end indoor sports facilities.