[0:04] (upbeat music) [0:04] - This is a project for the community. [0:06] It's a community rink. [0:07] It's not just for hockey, [0:08] it's not just for figure skating, it's for everybody. [0:10] - The Bloomington Ice Garden Modernization Project [0:13] is a part of the Bloomington Forward Sales Tax projects [0:17] that voters voted yes for on November 7th. [0:19] We are here celebrating the design development phase [0:23] of the renovation project, [0:24] and so we have invited stakeholders [0:26] and the general public to come celebrate the design [0:29] where we currently are at, [0:30] and to get some feedback on what they think [0:33] of the phase that we're in. [0:34] - High level, a lot of major mechanical. [0:36] Three new ice floors, a brand new ammonia ice plant, [0:39] all new roof and mechanical units. [0:41] Rink three will shrink from an Olympic to an NHL size rink. [0:44] We'll be adding high school locker rooms, [0:46] bleacher stadium on rink three, [0:48] and that's gonna become the high school rink. [0:49] So that'll be a huge change. [0:50] - We're one of the few high school hockey teams in the area [0:53] that don't have their own locker room. [0:54] So we're just really excited about the project [0:57] and what it'll do for the community. [0:58] - Being down on rink one [1:00] and that being our own house down there [1:03] I think will be really exciting, [1:04] so that we can continue to just be more comfortable [1:07] and to grow in our membership. [1:08] - Major restroom renovations throughout the whole facility, [1:11] including the locker rooms and the public spaces. [1:13] Relocating our concessions and our office spaces [1:16] to make it flow better for the public, [1:18] and probably most importantly, [1:20] actually adding some of the ADA accessibility [1:21] in the building. [1:22] Up until this point, besides a couple of ramps [1:24] in the whole facility, it's been very limited. [1:26] So adding two elevators [1:28] and some better viewing and appropriate seating [1:30] for people of all abilities and mobilities [1:33] is gonna be spectacular [1:34] for the future of this facility. [1:35] - I love what they're doing with that area above rink two [1:38] and rink one, where you can actually see from inside [1:41] and maybe actually stay warm [1:42] for a little bit during the winter months. [1:44] It's gonna be phenomenal. [1:44] - [Lenny] We've got a groundbreaking in September, [1:46] the addition on the backside of the building, [1:48] so that's where our new ice plant will go later this fall. [1:51] We'll hopefully get the second bid pack [1:52] or the final bid pack out for the rest of the project, [1:55] and hopefully construction will start inside [1:57] without interrupting anything in January. [1:59] And then in mid March, we're gonna shut down the facility [2:02] for about six months. [2:03] Complete closure, all three sheets, [2:05] and that's when we'll hammer out a majority of the work, [2:07] with the plan of being open [2:09] no later than October 1st is the goal. [2:11] - Love the fact that there's been so much planning [2:13] and time and effort that's put into it. [2:15] You can really see what the designs that they came up with. [2:18] There wasn't a huge footprint for them to work with. [2:20] They're not able to expand the space. [2:22] There was a lot of retrofitting [2:23] and real creative thinking that went into this. [2:25] I feel like they took a lot of time [2:27] to make sure they got this right, [2:28] and that it truly is a modern new Bloomington rink. [2:31] - Bloomington Ice Arena is such a valuable rink, [2:34] not just to the people of Bloomington, [2:35] but our entire community. [2:36] - Before I was a manager here, I was a hockey dad. [2:39] So it's really cool to have that connection [2:42] and have known how people have used this facility [2:45] and how the user groups have grown up here. [2:48] It's a center of community. [2:49] It's a rallying place for so many people in our community. [2:56] (upbeat music)