For Penn State's new $89-million Pegula Ice Arena, university officials challenged the project team to deliver the "best ice in the nation." To meet the goal, the team designed a state-of-the-art ice plant integrated with the building's HVAC system. To improve ice quality, the 228,000-sq-ft facility uses three semitrailer-size dehumidification units to condition oxygen before it enters the building. That helps sustain arena humidity and air temperature.
Ice quality is also driven by the quality of the concrete slab on which the ice sits. The specifications for the refrigerated concrete slab required the contractor to keep tight tolerances to produce a flat and level floor.