A $12.9 million construction project to upgrade the hockey arena at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minn. is expected to go out for bids later this month.
The state awarded the funds to the university in June to replace the cooling plant at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center. The system in use is original to the building, which opened in 1989.
Work is expected to begin in mid March and be completed in fall 2026. The project will be going out to public bids in mid-September, and local contractors are encouraged to submit proposals.
The rink’s cooling plant uses a R-22 refrigerant that is no longer produced and contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer. It will be replaced with a sustainable ammonia refrigerant, which is the most energy efficient and environmentally friendly refrigerant available today, according to project officials.
The project also seeks to replace dasher boards and shielding to improve player safety, upgrade automatic temperature controls and install new LED lighting in both rinks that are expected to significantly reduce energy consumption.
The main and auxiliary rinks will have reduced ice sizes. The main rink will measure 200 by 94 feet, and the auxiliary rink will be 195 by 85 feet.
The difference is not likely to be noticeable to the general public, the university said.
Photo by Pavel Danilyuk from Pexels
