About Facility
The Olympic Ice Center in Lake Placid, New York, is an iconic facility renowned for its rich history and ongoing contribution to the world of ice sports. Situated in the heart of the Adirondacks, this legendary venue embodies the spirit of athletic excellence and international competition, serving as a beacon for athletes and enthusiasts alike.
Originally constructed for the 1932 Winter Olympics and famously hosting the “Miracle on Ice” during the 1980 Winter Olympics, the Olympic Ice Center is steeped in history. It features multiple ice rinks, each meticulously maintained to provide optimal conditions for a wide range of activities. The facility boasts modern amenities, including state-of-the-art training and conditioning areas, spacious locker rooms, and top-tier equipment, ensuring that athletes have everything they need to perform at their best.
“GREAT MOMENTS ARE BORN FROM GREAT OPPORTUNITY.”
Herb Brooks – Legendary coach behind the iconic 1980 “Miracle on Ice”
Scope of Work
The Olympic Center, located in Lake Placid village, New York, has a historical background from hosting two world Olympics, including the Miracle on Ice in 1980, and many other competitions and celebrity events. A comprehensive study was completed in 2019 outlining recommended improvements for the facility. B32 Engineering Group, Inc. was hired to address one of the key areas for improvements, the ice system. The ice system improvements include the replacement of the existing common refrigeration system that serves three indoor ice rinks and one outdoor speedskating oval and the replacement of the speed skating oval floor system. These improvements are part of the Lake Placid Olympic Center Regional Modernization Project.
The refrigeration system replacement includes a new 1375 ton industrial grade, indirect refrigeration system that will serve all four ice skating surfaces plus a outdoor pleasure rink. The size restriction and location of the existing refrigeration room, access to the refrigeration room, and proximity to the neighboring high school and village, limited the type of refrigerant that could be used in this system. A new, blended synthetic refrigerant recommended by the NHL called R-513, was selected for this project.
B32 used cutting edge modeling technology to assure maximum usage of the existing refrigeration room and limit conflicts with other systems. B32 also researched and recommended a new padding system for the speedskating oval.
This project is faced with all the challenges of a typical ice rink renovation project but on a much larger scale. The design for this project will be complete in November 2020 and will be under construction in 2021.