At the Aurora (Ont.) Recreation Complex, dasherboard glass doubles as lobby glass.
Ice rinks require separation; dasher and netting systems keep athletes and pucks contained, while glass windows and curtainwall systems keep warm air in the lobby separate from cool air in the rink. Using dasher glass as lobby glass is the novel approach taken at the Aurora (Ont.) Recreation Complex. Both ice sheets feature glass dashers that at one end join with the lobby ceiling utilizing a gasketed channel system - when a body check occurs, the glass will rock back and forth while still maintaining a seal. As with most rinks, mitigating potential condensation issues is a key consideration when specifying glass, so Toronto-based MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects was careful to beef up the air-handling system, ensuring that air from lobby mechanical ducts blows directly onto the dasher system. The dual-purpose glass allows rink patrons to sit in climate-controlled comfort while enjoying, up close, the action on the ice.
