About Facility
The Elk River Community Center & Ice Arena in Elk River, Minnesota, is a premier facility that serves as a hub for local sports and community activities. This state-of-the-art venue embodies the community’s dedication to fostering athletic excellence, promoting wellness, and enhancing the quality of life for its residents.
The Elk River Ice Arena features multiple ice rinks that are meticulously maintained to provide optimal conditions for a variety of ice sports, including hockey, figure skating, and recreational skating. The facility boasts modern amenities such as advanced training areas, spacious locker rooms, and seating arrangements designed to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience for both athletes and spectators. As the home of the Elk River Elks hockey teams, the arena plays a crucial role in supporting local sports programs and nurturing young talent.
"Half the game is mental; the other half is being mental."
Jim McKenny – Former NHL Hockey Player
Scope of Work
Furniture & Things Community Event Center is a two-sheet ice arena with walking track, senior center, community space, turf field, and outdoor sport fields.
The project began with converting the original ice arena into a turf field with a walking track and fitness space, with the addition to the building including the two ice sheets, a walking track, community space with kitchen, senior center, and upgraded concessions.
Since 2003, B32 had been working with the City of Elk River on improvements to their existing two sheet ice arena. So when it came to selecting the ice rink engineer for their new two sheet facility, the City selected the design team that included their trusted partner, B32 Engineering Group, Inc. Through the many years of education that B32 provided to the City during ice system renovation and improvement projects at the existing Elk River Ice Arena regarding refrigerants, refrigeration equipment, energy efficiency, ice quality, etc., the City was certain that their new, State of the Art ice arena facility will include the following:
- An ammonia-based, common refrigeration system to serve both ice sheets to maximize efficient and longevity and minimize harm to the environment
- A stick built refrigeration system to assist in, and minimize operation and maintenance on the equipment and provide safer access to the equipment
- Life safety systems
- State of the Art control system for operating, monitoring and programming the system for maximum efficiency
- Two concrete, standard NHL size ice rink floor to minimize long term maintenance and maximize the flexibility of the facility
- High density polyethylene piping systems in the rink floors with fusion welded fittings to maximize longevity
- Maximizing the use of waste heat from the refrigeration system for reuse throughout the facility
B32 was proud to be a trusted partner on this project and to design the high performing ice systems that the City’s very successful hockey programs will continue to use for many years to come.