National Tennis Center, Beijing

The National Tennis Center is identifiable by the Diamond Court, a stadium defined by sixteen powerful, V-shaped concrete columns that create a faceted appearance resembling a diamond. Opened in two phases, the complex first served as the primary venue for tennis matches during the Beijing two thousand eight Olympic and Paralympic Games. While the site originally featured the Lotus Court—designed with petal-like tiers to resemble a blossoming flower—the addition of the Diamond Court in two thousand eleven expanded the facility to hold fifteen thousand spectators.