Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1169925
Hobbs Ice Arena in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, was built in 1976 with one indoor NHL-sized event rink (the O'Brien Rink) and an outdoor refriger- ated NHL-sized practice rink (the Akervik Rink), which was enclosed to become an indoor rink in 1985. THE ISSUE Based on ice demand in the mid-70s, neither rink floor has subfloor heat capability as they were originally designed for only six months of ice. Over time, increasing demand for ice time led to increases in the length of the ice season at the facility, ultimately reaching a 10-month ice-in/2-month ice- out schedule for each rink for the past 10 years. The schedules for the two rinks are staggered so that there is always one rink with ice during the offseason, and both are in operation during the main portion of the season. A few years ago, signs of frost heave in the Akervik Rink floor started to appear in the area where the rink floor cooling pip- ing entered the rink from the refrigeration room. The rink USICERINKS.COM SEPTEMBER.OCTOBER.2019 / 31 "BECAUSE HEAT AND MOISTURE WANT TO MOVE TO THE COLDEST POINT IT MADE SENSE THAT THIS MOISTURE WAS THEN MOST LIKELY FOLLOWING THE COOLING MAINS WHICH RAN UNDERGROUND THROUGH THE OPENING BETWEEN THE BUILDINGS. " 1 . Wood viewing areas were built to cover exposed areas of the oversized refrigerated slab. 2 . Dasherboard removal was completed before a dry-floor event which could not be rescheduled. 3 4 3 . After the dry-floor event the remaining demo work was completed, including the existing locker room area. These were simply block walls with benches and shelves, no ceilings or heat. 4 . A large storage area was also removed, to be replaced with a referee room which was a needed addition to the rink.