[music] Welcome to Agenda Edina, a program summarizing the actions taken at city hall that affect you most. I'm your host, Dorothia Marty. Plans to refresh, renovate, and expand Braar Arena took a major step forward as city staff unveiled the project's overall design concept. At the heart of the project is the transformation of Braar's outdoor backyard rink into a state-of-the-art fourth indoor ice rink. This change will allow yearround scheduling, eliminate weather related disruptions, and create more space for spectators to enjoy events at one of the region's busiest ice facilities. The existing floor of the outdoor rink will be reused for the new indoor rink, helping save costs and allowing funding to be directed toward other improvements. The city is also exploring opportunities to reuse other backyard rink components at a different location. The core project also includes new and updated lobby spaces, full ADA accessibility, and critical infrastructure upgrades to Brayar's existing rinks. >> Working on the Braar Arena project has found to be extremely complex. We are trying to interconnect uh ice arenas that have been built in the 1960s, the 1980s, the 1990s, and most recent additions in the 2010s. And what we're striving to do is deliver a high quality user experience and athletes first facility that will stay within the allotted budget that we've been tasked with and deliver exceptional results for the community. Getting around the arena will be easier and safer thanks to a new central corridor, a second lobby near the west rink, improved traffic flow with a dedicated dropoff lane, ADA accessible team rooms and restrooms, wheelchair viewing platforms, and added handrails in seating areas. Ice quality and comfort will also improve with new water filtration, refrigeration, and dehumidification systems designed to deliver better skating conditions, clearer ice, fewer cancellations, and a more comfortable environment for both athletes and spectators. Braar staff have already met with user groups to gather feedback, which has emphasized the importance of preserving the historic West Rink. The West Rink is significant. It was built in 1965. It's one of the older rinks in the metro and it's one of the first highcapacity spectator arenas in the Twin Cities. And that's why it's so important to maintain and be good stewards of the space so generations to come can enjoy it. >> Design services for the project are being provided by JLG Architects with construction led by Canudson Construction. The city plans to keep Braar open throughout construction to avoid disrupting the many programs and organizations that rely on the facility. >> I started skating at the Braar Arena in the early '7s as a figure skater. Then I was a parent of a skater at the Braar Arena. I would love the legacy of Braar to continue on. I think the renovation is really important so that we know we have a longlasting facility for 50 60 more years to come as we've had the last 60 years. Detailed design work will continue through the summer.