Details
Overview
The NAU Fieldhouse Ice Rink project started with a simple floor replacement following a water main break that damaged the existing floor beyond repair. NAU had commissioned a prior study that converted the Fieldhouse into an arena and had the foresight to plan on utility roughs that could accommodate the potential future uses of the facility. During a series of programming meetings with the design team NAU’s desire to add a refrigerated slab (ice rink) surfaced. The design and engineering team was able to provide programming for the potential ice rink and work through the budgeting effort within a compressed time frame.
The programming effort led to a phased project approach where the refrigerated slab was designed and constructed simultaneously with the flooring replacement to allow the space to be used while activation of the rink and associated program components would occur in a subsequent phase. Systems were designed to support a future ice melt pit and locker additions.
A series of renderings to enable fundraising efforts for the ice rink has resulted in Phase II of the project, The NAU Thermal Ice Storage and Fieldhouse Multipurpose Facility, which couples the ice rink and Fieldhouse multipurpose interior build-out with the design and engineering of a new chiller and associated mechanical equipment within the North plant that will dually serve the refrigeration equipment producing ice for the Ice Rink and the Thermal Storage System.
