Hammel, Green and Abrahamson, Inc. Shoots and Scores With Cedar Rapids Ice Arena Design

In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, sports reigns supreme, and hockey – both pro and recreational – are royalty during winter activities. The Cedar Rapids Rough Riders, member of the United States Hockey League are a professional team supported by a community of avid athletes and supportive sports fans.

Yet, Cedar Rapids didn’t have an appropriate place to host the hockey games or other recreational events. The City, along with Polar Ice Entertainment, the Cedar Rapids Rough Riders and Skate, Inc., decided to remedy the void of a quality facility by building a new ice arena.

This civic and private partnership turned to the Rochester offices of Hammel, Green and Abrahamson, Inc., a nationally renowned architectural and engineering firm, to design an ice arena that would appeal to ice skaters, hockey players, sports fans of all ages, community members and tourists—and have it ready for action in less than a year.

We were under an extremely tight time frame, said Roger Nelson, HGA’s project architect for the arena. The project kicked off in the spring and the first game was played in the new arena the following winter.

Skeptics said this task was impossible. HGA said, We can do it.

HGA knew that the ice arena needed to serve several audiences. Cedar Rapids wanted a venue that had the ability and capacity to host events the entire community can attend, such as ice skating competitions, concerts, hockey games and, of course, the USHL’s Rough Riders games.

We had to be certain to incorporate the needs of the future arena’s multiple tenants and owners. At the same time, we needed to develop a design that would reflect a feeling of festive interaction, said Nelson.

To meet the needs of all, Nelson and his team designed a 115,000 square-foot facility with an Olympic-size hockey rink and a 4,000 seat arena surrounding it.

In order to meet the short schedule, HGA recommended that the city hire a contractor immediately at the beginning of design development. With a contractor in place, the team worked closely together throughout the design and construction process, issuing multiple construction packages. All through the process, communication was a priority, and the HGA team frequently met with representatives of the various groups to ensure that all their requirements and expectations were addressed.

In addition to meeting the needs of public and private sectors in the short time frame, HGA solved many issues associated with the physical constraints of the arena’s location. There was a hill on the north, a 60 inches storm sewer line on the south, a newly upgraded soccer field on the west and Rockford Road on the east. Additionally, the soil was so poor it required special engineering methods to correct the conditions.

Working with the contractor, HGA designed the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena within the site constraints. The result is a venue that provides a location for multiple activities and events while blending well with the surrounding environment. Inspired by the region’s large agricultural grain facilities, the arena’s design utilizes corrugated galvanized metal panels on the exterior to fit within this context.

Inside, the arena’s multiple levels feature large walls of glass that allow a visual connection between areas of the facility as well as views of the outside. The entry pavilion incorporates elements of Polar Ice’s prototypical design – including a dramatic arch and angled wall panels designed to complement the site and building configuration. To accommodate the Rough Rider’s large fan base, HGA incorporated 4,000 seats and 14 luxury suites that have observation decks with panoramic views of the entire arena and the rink below.

HGA’s design team also added numerous amenities to attract business sponsors and community supporters. For example, the facility includes a game room located on the east end of the Olympic-size ice rink; public meeting and party rooms, state-of-the-art locker rooms and a weight room with the latest gym equipment - available to the public when not reserved for special events and Rough Riders games. Visitors can also enjoy a restaurant meal and spirits in the large public gathering space beyond the entrance.

With the completion of the project, Cedar Rapids has a community center that serves as a recreational facility and a professional sports arena for the enjoyment of residents and visitors alike.

For more information on related products and services, please choose from the following menu of items:

About The Author:

Udo Liszt is a successful author and publisher of http://www./. Find hockey apparel, bags, gloves, gear, sticks, skates, training aids and much more.

	Hockey Rink
Hammel, Green and Abrahamson, Inc. Shoots and Scores With Cedar Rapids Ice Arena Design