Page 33 - College Planning & Management, September 2018

a hidden challenge critical to operational success. In the Bentley Arena, converting spaces for social and entertainment use requires breaking down and storing the boards and glass partitions and swapping in stored flooring to safely cover the ice surface. When hosting reception and social events, curtains, dividers, and furniture must be stored in a convenient, accessible spot. Finding space that might otherwise go unused, such as the space underneath the seating bowl, helps maximize both the flexibility and efficiency of the venue.
Sustainability
A priority for most clients during initial conversations about a building on the scale of a new athletic, fitness, or wellness facil- ity is energy consumption. Most schools are interested in a sustainable building that supports the institution’s values—even in a building type notorious for high energy consumption. Both Bentley University and Worcester State University are signatories to the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve car- bon neutrality. This commitment is borne out by the design of their facilities.
Amanda King, Bentley’s director of Sustainability, challenged the arena design team to focus from the outset on creating unprecedented savings in energy efficiency and building envelope design. Achieve- ments in these two areas led to earning
the country’s first-ever LEED Platinum Certification for a standalone arena. The building envelope features significantly more glass than most athletic buildings, al- lowing more natural light in and reducing electrical demand for internal lighting. The HVAC system captures heat generated from ice making to produce hot water through- out the building, and 40 percent of the arena’s electricity is generated by its 1,400 rooftop solar panels.
“From concept development to product specification and systems coordination, the team pursued an integrated approach to design and sustainability,” says King.
The long-term success of a multipur- pose sports, fitness, and wellness venue hinges on building in sufficient adapt- ability to meet unknown future uses. Recognizing today that tomorrow’s sports and athletic buildings will integrate health, wellness, and academics into the whole
student social experience sets the project up for the win. CPM
Jan Taylor, AIA, LEED-AP BD+C, is an associate principal with Boston-based ARC/ Architectural Resources Cambridge. She can be reached at jtaylor@arcusa.com.
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Photo Credit: Birmingham Hippodrome