plans for the future - the national hockey and event center
Proposed exterior of the National Hockey and Event Center.
(Images courtesy of JLG Architects)
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Big Changes Planned at the NHEC
Big changes are on the horizon at St. Cloud State University and the National Hockey and Event Center. The signing of the bonding bill on April 9, 2008, by Gov. Tim Pawlenty provided St. Cloud State with $6.5 million to serve as the start of funding for several proposed improvements to the NHEC for hockey and to transform it into an events center for Central Minnesota.
The NHEC project will help move forward a Fifth Avenue development project planned jointly by the city of St. Cloud, St. Cloud State and private enterprise. The St. Cloud Civic Center and the National Hockey and Event Center are the anchors of the Fifth Avenue development project.
Proposed improvements for the NHEC include a new main entrance, a major renovation of the main arena (featuring suites and seating on the west end of the rink) and improvements to the building’s existing office and locker areas and infrastructure to create a regional center for entertainment and cultural events.
The first step in the project will be to raise the remaining funds for the proposed improvements to the National Hockey and Event Center - Home of Husky Hockey!
(Check below for more images of the proposed improvements to the National Hockey and Event Center. All images courtesy of JLG Architects.)
Architect Selected for NEHC Project
March 9, 2009
ST. CLOUD, Minn.—JLG Architects of Alexandria and Minneapolis, Minn., and Grand Forks and Fargo, N.D., has been selected as the architect for St. Cloud State University 's planned National Hockey and Event Center addition and renovation project slated to start in 2010.
JLG will work with Hagemeister Mack Architects of St. Cloud in providing the architectural services for the project estimated to cost $29.3 million. The renovation plan will convert the facility from primarily a hockey arena into a regional multi-purpose event center, add 20-30 luxury suites and additional seats and upgrade the entrance, ticketing, administration, university store, concourses, restrooms and concessions areas. When completed, the facility will be able to seat about 8,000 for concerts.
When renovated, in addition to hockey, the regional multi-purpose event center will be capable of hosting concerts, major speakers, theatre productions, trade shows in cooperation with the St. Cloud Civic Center, ice shows, family shows and other athletic competitions like arena football, youth wrestling, basketball and volleyball.
JLG was selected in a competitive process and has worked on a number of large athletic facilities including the $100 million Ralph Engelstad Arena and the Corporate Center in Grand Forks, civic centers in Bismarck and Fargo, N.D., the North Dakota Museum of Art, The Mississippi Master Plan for Elk River, Minn., and numerous other projects in the Upper Midwest. The firm is currently working on new arena projects in Wausau, Wis., Indianapolis, Ind., Dayton, Ohio and Seattle, Wash.
St. Cloud State President Earl H. Potter III said, "We are pleased to have an architect with the background and experience of JLG. This is an important project for Central Minnesota and having the best architect for the job on board is an essential element in creating this regional hockey and event center. "
Potter added, "We plan to build a complex that puts fans first, emphasizes the history and tradition of our university and teems with the spirit of Husky hockey. It will bring to Central Minnesota entertainment and events unlike ever before. "
Bill Breyfogle, director of design and construction for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, said, "JLG Architects was selected based upon their technical competence, cohesiveness and compatibility, ability to deal with aesthetic factors, unique qualifications and geographic relationship to the project site. "
The project is being funded by a $6.5 million investment from the state of Minnesota and private fund raising, sponsorships and naming rights income projected at nearly $23 million.
The National Hockey and Event Center project along with an addition to the St. Cloud Civic Center, both in the planning stages, are referred to as "anchors " of extensive re-development of Fifth Avenue which will include the addition of housing, commercial and retail facilities connecting the city’s downtown and the St. Cloud State University campus.
The schematic design phase contract is for $351,000. Additional architectural fees for the design and construction services will amount to $1.4 million.
St. Cloud State, located 70 miles northwest of the Twin Cities along the banks of the Mississippi River, offers its 17,000 students more than 200 undergraduate and graduate programs leading to degrees and certificates in business, education, fine arts and humanities, science and engineering and social sciences
(L-R) Mayor Dave Kleis, State Rep. Steve Gottwalt, Governor Tim Pawlenty, State Rep. Dan Severson and State Sen. Tarryl Clark at the ceremony in 2008 celebrating the signing of the bonding bill that will help provide funds for the NHEC renovations.
A view of the the proposed atrium lobby, which well help transform the NHEC into a true regional center for entertainment, athletic and cultural events at St. Cloud State University. (Image courtesy of JLG Architects).
A view of the the proposed main arena in the NHEC. (Image courtesy of JLG Architects).
A view of a proposed suite in the National Hockey and Event Center. (Image courtesy of JLG Architects).
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