Kinsmen Arena Ice Systems Upgrades

Walking and seating concrete surfaces have been completed, and block wall construction to add doors is scheduled to begin soon. Tie bars are currently being re-installed, with the final 6 inches of compacted gravel expected to be placed by the end of the week. Next week, crews will work to install the compacted sand bed followed by the warm floor piping system. Once the warm floor installation is complete, the cold floor will be installed as the next critical step toward creating the ice surface. While several key phases remain before the arena can be ice-ready, these developments mark steady progress in the project timeline.

The perimeter slab is taking shape as concrete pouring continues. Some rounded corners have been poured this week, with the other side prepped and ready for forming. In addition to the concrete work, the new dehumidifier arrived, and was placed on the asphalt pad and support columns on the east side of the arena.

Due to two unforeseen issues, the Kinsmen Arena project will be delayed by approximately three weeks. Substantial completion (the point at which the project is completed and ice making can begin) has been adjusted to September 28 to accommodate additional time needed for the following impacts:

1. Rebar Cross Ties
   During demolition and removal of the existing arena floor, structural rebar cross ties were found underneath the concrete floors. These rebar supports tie the columns together under the slab, increasing the strength and integrity of the structure. The tie-ins were not previously known until cutting and removal of the slab began. Rather than further impacting the project timeline by leaving the tie-ins and working around them, the decision was made to cut the rebar so that excavation, backfill, and compaction could proceed without the need to work around the tie-ins. Once backfilling and compaction was completed the rebar tie-ins were re-installed and welded back onto the support columns.
   
   This added work has increased the project timeline by 11 days.
   
   
   
   
2. Dewatering
   Near the end of April, and as ground material excavation neared the west side of the arena area, ground water began to seep into the work area at only three feet deep, with excavation needing to go down to seven feet in some placed. To combat the ground water, sump pump pits were installed to pump water away, and large fans added to help dry out the ground materials so excavation could continue.
   
   This added work has increased the project timeline by 12 days.
   
   

The project team continues to investigate options to re-gain lost time during the remainder of the project. However, the critical components left to complete is the pouring and curing of the concrete within the arena, which will take several weeks to complete. Barring any other issues with the project skating is anticipated to start at the Kinsmen Arena within the first two full weeks of October.

After backfilling and compacting the base materials, forms were laid and concrete has been poured for the first section of the spectator bleacher areas. Arena slab piping will soon be laid with more forming and concrete to follow. The asphalt pad and support columns for the dehumidification system have also been installed.

After a bit of time pumping water and drying things out, we're off to the next stage! Sand is now being trucked in, spread out, and compacted to build the first layer of the new arena floor foundation.

The sump pits and water pumping has greatly improved the conditions within the arena area. Large fans have also been installed to assist with drying out the materials, and excavation is continuing with the dryer material. On the outside, the ground materials and existing slab are starting to be hauled away. In the ice plant room, the new chiller and some connection piping has been installed.

Demolition of the remaining concrete slab and excavation of ground materials continued this week. As the work moved to the west side of the building ground water started to seep into the work area at only 3 feet deep. Four 10' sump pits have been drilled and pumps installed to remove the ground water so that the materials can dry out and excavation can continue.

April 11, 2025

The arena slab has been cut into sections and is now being removed, in addition to removal of some of the ground base materials. Approximately half of the concrete and ground materials have been removed so far. Some members from City Council toured the work site earlier this week to get a first had look at the excavation process. This work includes removing roughly six feet of ground materials so that proper weeping tile and drainage systems can be installed under the new concrete floor.

April 3, 2025

Work is being done to cut up the existing concrete floor into sections prior to the upcoming excavation. The arena slab is roughly 7 inches thick, and contains the many lines of piping that keeps the floor cold enough to make ice. Once cutting is complete the intent is to "pop" the smaller section up to be removed, and then begin removing the ground materials underneath the concrete floor.

March 28, 2025

High level painting of the steel support beams, columns, and related components wrapped up this week. This work was completed prior to the new arena slab being installed to protect against over-spray once the new floor is poured and cured. The project now shifts to concrete cutting followed by demolition and removal of the existing slab, piping, and ground materials which is scheduled to start on March 31st.