Class of 1965 Arena, Colgate University

Hamilton, NY
Construction Cost: $28.7 Million
Area / Square Feet: 98,700 SF
Occupancy Date: September 2016

The Class of 1965 Arena at Colgate University is a competition ice arena for the institution’s Division 1 men’s and women’s hockey teams. In addition to the NCAA-regulation-size rink and comprehensive support facilities for the ice hockey program, the building includes new locker facilities for men’s and women’s lacrosse and soccer, a training center with hydrotherapy pools, and a full administration suite for athletics officials and coaches. Each locker room and lounge has a full complement of technology, including laptop and audio inputs, in-ceiling speakers and a centralized game-clock system.

The arena’s main public spaces, including a double-height entry lobby and a visitor lounge on the rink level, are notably featured along the street and entryway upon arrival. The facades are composed of glass curtainwall, high-performance concrete panels and roughhewn bluestone, a local building material synonymous with Colgate’s campus. The entry lobby is a focal point for visitors and athletes alike — a transparent gathering space radiating energy from fans congregating before and after games.

The rink itself is a study in minimal finishes that declutter the appearance of complex technical elements. The resulting uniform background lends more focus to the main event. The large ceiling plane is formed by a perforated acoustical metal deck. Suspended clusters of linear LED light fixtures are preprogrammed with energy-saving settings for practices and broadcast-level scenarios suitable for Division 1 competitions, while dedicated special-effect lighting punctuates player introductions and game highlights.