Title
Consideration and Possible Approval of a Cover Structure Selection for the Los Alamos Ice Rink
Recommended Action
I move that Council support further development of a mono-sloped frame cover structure for the Ice Rink in conjunction with the programmed floor replacement.
County Manager's Recommendation
The County Manager recommends that Council approve the motion as presented.
Board, Commission or Committee Recommendation
On May 8, 2024, the Parks and Recreation Board (PRB) approved a recommendation of support for a mono-sloped frame structure for the Ice Rink to County Council.
Body
Over the years, the Los Alamos Ice Rink has experienced difficulty with maintaining a quality ice sheet particularly on the north side of the floor. Exposure of the ice sheet to direct sunlight during the early and late months of the ice-skating season is the most problematic. With these months bound between the beginning of ice making operations in the last week of October to mid-December, and from mid-January to the end of the ice-skating season on President’s Day in February, Ice rink staff is combating ice loss for 11 out of 19 weeks in the ice-skating season. Moreover, the refrigeration system or chiller undergoes accelerated wear and tear as it works extended hours at increased loads during the day to combat the loss of ice. The chiller and ice rink staff effort required to combat ice loss also results in inefficient energy use and extended work shifts. This problem has worsened over the years with the continual loss of tree cover on the adjacent canyon wall.
Members of the community have requested the use of a shade or cover structure as a possible means to address solar intensity impacts to maintaining ice during the challenging months and for other uses throughout the year. The County engaged in some early evaluations of options and rough order of magnitude (ROM) budgetary costs in 2004, 2011 and 2018. However, due to cost and budgetary concerns by Council at those times, no action was taken to proceed further with a cover structure. With further discussion and budgetary programming of large-scale maintenance of the ice rink including replacement of the chiller and refrigerated floor, along with input from the community, the discussion of a cover structure resumed. Council subsequently appropriated Capital Improvement Program (CIP) funds to re-evaluate structure options. The addition of a cover structure, specifically the footings, could also integrate seamlessly with the design of the ice rink floor.
Staff has observed that the ice rink floor experiences significant thermal expansion-contraction cycles on a daily basis. These cycles result from the action direct sun exposure on the floor during the day and the sudden ambient cooling at sunset. Invariably, these cycles fatigue the concrete floor and the embedded cooling piping. The effect of these cycles is particularly evident by the shearing of the curb and tightening of the deck covering the header trench. Concrete pitting and spalling are also observed at various locations on the floor. The project team anticipates that a cover structure could be very effective at extending the life expectancy of the new floor by reducing the intensity of solar radiation and therefore reducing the extent of the resulting thermal expansion.
In December 2024, the project team initiated a planning phase to inform the decision-making process for a potential cover structure at the ice rink. Two parallel tasks were conducted during this phase. The first was a public outreach process aimed at collecting the community’s perspectives regarding a cover structure. This process included two listening sessions with user groups, the creation of a project webpage, three public meetings held at the regular Parks and Recreation Board meetings, and two online public surveys. The second activity was an exploration of cover structure and budget alternatives available for the ice rink. Wilson and Company Engineers and Architects supported the exploration of cover structure alternatives as a design professional under on-call services agreement AGR23-52e.
The outcome of this planning phase is as follows. Seventy-two percent of survey participants support a cover structure at the ice rink. The survey indicates that the cover structure should provide not only protection from the sun, but rain and snow while also providing full, year-round coverage of the arena including the rink floor, player boxes, and stands. Research conducted by consultant, Wilson & Company, identified cover structures alternatives in a variety of materials, types, extent of surface coverage, and cost including pre-engineered to custom structures, from partial to full cover, from permanent to retractable, and a variety of construction materials including glulam (engineered wood) , aluminum and fabric, with costs ranging from $900,000 to $7,000,000. After assessing public feedback received that was solicited during public outreach and assessing the variety of material and construction options available, the project team identified that a pre-engineered steel structure with rigid roof decking as the recommended option. This determination is based on cover structure functionality, cost, and maintenance considerations. Pre-engineered steel structures are available in two geometries, mono-sloped and gable and hip. The opinion of probable cost for these structures is between $ 900,000 and $1,500,000. According to the results of the second online public survey, the community’s preference is the mono-sloped structure configuration. For further reference, the results from the two public online surveys are included in this staff report as Attachments A and B.
The project team recommendation was discussed by the Parks and Recreation Board (PRB) during their May 8, 2025 regular meeting. At this meeting, the PRB supported a cover structure at the ice rink and approved a recommendation to County Council for a mono-sloped steel frame structure. Attachment C shows the conceptual mono-slopped structure recommended. Given the proximity of the canyon wall, limited space in the parcel, and varying site elevations, structure footings and site work will also require engineering analysis beyond the scope of this planning phase.
Contingent on Council’s approval of the selected cover structure, the project team will proceed with further development of the ice rink cover in conjunction with the programmed floor replacement.
Alternatives
Council could choose not to proceed with further development of the ice rink cover, choose another structure option presented, or direct the County Manager to evaluate other options.
Fiscal and Staff Impact/Planned Item
The combined CIP funding from fiscal years 2024, 2025 and 2026 for the Ice Rink Chiller, Floor Replacement and Shade Structure totals $8,485,000. With the chiller replacement project ongoing and nearing completion, the available balance for the design and construction of the floor replacement and cover structure is approximately $5,585,000.
Attachments
A - First online survey results
B - Second online survey results
C - Recommended cover structure
D - Ice Rink Cover Structure Presentation