City council considers building 'arenas in a box'
EDMONTON — City councillors are mulling over a proposal that could save million of dollars on new ice arenas by erecting “arenas in a box.”
The idea has been embraced by sectors such as oil and gas, which for years have used the design for cold storage warehouses.
The structures are prefabricated and consist of fabric covering a metal frame.
A spokesman from Sprung Instant Structures, a company that specializes in the design, said it typically saves about 40 per cent in costs and is just as durable as a “bricks and mortar” building.
“One could assume that because it’s built like a tent, it might not last as long,” said Miro Hubac, who spoke to a council committee Monday morning.
But that’s not the case, he said. The outside “membrane” might have to be replaced every 30 years, about the same amount of time it would take to replace a traditional roof, he said.
A private school in Calgary recently opened a facility with two ice rinks and three basketball enclosed under a stressed membrane roof and walls.
Edmonton’s arenas strategy calls for 10 rinks to be built by 2019.
Mayor Stephen Mandel said he is open to the idea.
“I find it very interesting,” he said. “I don’t think we can be closing our eyes to something that’s new and different.
“I’m not saying let’s do this everywhere, but let’s consider it.”
A council committee asked that administration report back in May on the feasibility of these types of rinks.
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/City+council+considers+building+arenas/1470267/story.html
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