News Archive

Date: October 8th 2008 Project: DECC Arena

For the past several years, Duluthians had viewed artist's conceptions of how a new DECC arena might look, but those images were simply placeholders until full funding for the project was finalized.
 
With the project now a reality and construction about to begin this coming spring, final designs of the arena were unveiled to the public on Wednesday afternoon during a presentation at the DECC. Included were floor plans, color renderings of the arena’s exterior and interior, as well as a computer-animated, 360-degree "tour" around the outside and inside of the arena.

"After many years of dreaming about what our new arena could be, it's great to finally see what a wonderful facility Duluth is going to have for sporting events, concerts, conventions and more," said Mayor Don Ness. "The new Duluth arena will stand alongside any other arena as among the best in the world."

UMD Chancellor Kathryn A. Martin concurred. "UMD is very pleased and excited as we look forward to this great facility for UMD men's and women's hockey," she said. "The new arena will also provide a wonderful entertainment center for the entire community."

Leading the presentation was Jim Swords, AIA, principal at HOK Sport, the world's leading sports architecture firm. In addition to designing the DECC, HOK Sport designed the Xcel Energy Center, the University of Minnesota's new TCF Bank Stadium and the Twins' new Target Field, among hundreds of other facilities around the world.

"When we set out to design the new arena, we took into consideration everything that was great and right about the current DECC," said Swords, whose company is teaming with Duluth's SJA Architects on the arena design. "The new arena will allow University of Minnesota Duluth hockey and regional commerce to thrive, all while providing a dynamic gathering space for fans."

During his presentation, Swords highlighted the following:

• The arena’s design is a contemporary addition to the DECC. The design pays homage to Duluth as a civic hub with its iconic bridges, but also to the region’s plains and range as well through the use of native materials and angular natural geometries of Northern Minnesota.
• The arena's orientation provides for views out to the city through expansive glass walls.
• With University of Minnesota Duluth men's and women's hockey as the arena's primary tenant, the design team took special care to provide a modern arena with programmed spaces to meet the needs of these successful teams. For example, both teams will enjoy expansive locker rooms, training space and weight room.
• The arena will feature many modern amenities and fan comforts such as:
  • Expanded concourses with a view to the arena floor from nearly every point in the concourse. While the existing arena concourse averages 14 feet in width, the new concourse will average 18.
  • More concession and restroom space. While the existing arena has 15 women’s restroom stalls on the concourse, the new arena will have 68 women’s restroom stalls.
  • A direct, seamless link to the entire DECC complex at the event level.
  • Private suites and party suites on their own private level.
  • A club lounge for gathering on event and non-event days alike.
  • A University of Minnesota-Duluth team store.

• The arena is designed for flexibility. The event level can accommodate up to 20,000 square feet of event floor space for trade shows and exhibitions; it was also designed to accommodate concerts, family events and much more.
• The arena will become one of the first in the country to achieve sustainable design certification, incorporating a variety of green design elements such as:
  • Use of recycled materials during construction.
  • Use of efficient plumbing and mechanical systems like no other arena in Minnesota.
  • Mitigating storm water runoff.