Nelson-Rudie provided engineering services for improvements and an ice room expansion at the existing Cottage Grove Ice Arena. The arena consists of two existing rink structures, with the first rink built in 1974 and the second rink and link constructed in 2008.

The ice room expansion created space for new, larger equipment required for a full ice system replacement. The expansion supported upgrades to the arena’s refrigeration infrastructure and associated building systems.

Mechanical work included the removal and replacement of the existing refrigeration room ventilation system. This included the addition of fans for ventilation, heat gain from ice plant equipment and emergency ventilation, as well as a unit heater to temper the space. A new indoor-mounted desiccant unit and exhaust fan were provided for the practice rink. Natural gas piping was removed and replaced in the refrigeration room, and the natural gas meter was relocated outside. Two new emergency shower/eyewash stations were also added using reclaimed heat from the ice plant.

The existing main switchboard and refrigeration motor control center in the refrigeration room were removed. A new 1600-amp exterior switchboard was installed to feed a new main service switchboard in the electrical room, and existing motors were re-fed to the new system. New panelboards and a transformer were installed in the electrical room, a new refrigeration motor control center was added in the remodeled refrigeration room, and office light switches for the north and south ice rinks were replaced with a new lighting control system.

Following completion of the arena improvements, a new center-ice scoreboard was installed, further enhancing the experience for players and spectators.

The Cottage Grove Ice Arena now features a state-of-the-art hanging center-ice scoreboard system rarely seen in suburban municipal ice arenas.