RINK BREAKDOWN Added Off-Ice Workout Facility Is SQUARE FEET Designed for Both 180,000 Off-Ice Training and Medical Treatment
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Resolving PROJECT IN COVID-19 CUSTOMER PICTURES: MONEY $ CONFLICT CHILLER ROOM MANAGEMENT THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE UNITED STATES ICE RINK ASSOCIATION FreshA LOOK ,THE CENTURY-OLD SKATING CLUB OF BOSTON GETS AN UPDATE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 USICERINKS.COM Featured Rink The Skating Club of Boston | | Norwood, Mass. A Fresh New Look The Skating Club of Boston continues its century-long run in new facility while continuing to support figure skaters. // by RYAN WILLIAMSON AS THE THIRD-OLDEST than the Skating Club of Boston. The while a new Boston Arena was built, SKATING CLUB IN THE U.S., Philadelphia Skating Club and Humane eventually opening in 1920. it might be safe to assume that the Skating Society has been around since 1849 and As the club and its facilities grew Club of Boston has started to show its age. nearby Cambridge Skating Club was and changed, so too did its relationship However, that assumption would be founded in 1897. with figure skating. The club helped completely false. In 1912, the Skating Club of Boston the launch of U.S. Figure Skating while The club is going on 108 years of was formed by a group of skaters known hosting the inaugural New England serving those in the skating community. as the “Back Bay Skating Club.” With Championship in 1943. That later Recently, this historic club got an injection many of them enthusiastic about the became the regional championship where of youthfulness with a new facility, giving sport, they decided to form the Skating skaters now compete in order to advance the skaters more opportunities to develop Club of Boston and began building the to the national championships. and enjoy the sport of figure skating. Boston Arena. It was one of the first indoor ice facilities in the U.S. A Focus On the Figure Skaters A Storied History Just six years after incorporating as a While many ice facilities house and sup- Just two skating clubs in the U.S. club, the first Boston Arena was burned port figure skaters, few put an emphasis have operated continuously longer down in a fire. Members skated outside on it quite like the Skating Club of 18 / NOVEMBER.DECEMBER.2020 USICERINKS.COM PHOTOS: SKATING CLUB OF BOSTON WHAT’S UNIQUE ABOUT OUR FACILITY IS IT’S A FACILITY PUT TOGETHER FOR FIGURE SKATERS. IT’S BUILT AROUND FIGURE SKATING WITH A LITTLE BIT OF HOCKEY MIXED IN. In the past five years, the push for this new version of the club really began to go. It started with bringing Zeghibe on in a professional role and surrounding him with professional staff, such as club director Jon Jepson. Previously, the facil- ity relied mostly upon volunteers. Boston. The majority of the facility’s ice to do, you can do it here,” Zeghibe said. “We’re a non-profit that had a board sheets are set up for figure skating. While “We have those who are doing it recre- that used to be more focused on the there is some hockey that takes place, the ationally and 10-12 who are looking to operation,” Zeghibe said. “Now, with focus remains on figure skating. do this at an Olympic level.” the staff we brought in, our board is Someone who understands that first- As for Olympians, Skating Club of more strategic.” hand is CEO and Executive Director Boston alumni include 1956 Olympic After many starts and stops, the project Doug Zeghibe. He grew up going to champion Tenley Albright, 1992 got underway on May 13, 2019. Thus, this club, has worked events, and spent Olympic silver medalist Paul Wylie and began the building of a facility esti- countless hours at the facility. the duo of Marissa Castelli and Simon mated to cost more than $30 million in “Our core business is getting people to Shnapir. Castelli and Shnapir are two- Norwood, Massachusetts, a suburb out- join the club and practice and compete as time U.S. national champions and helped side of Boston. figure skaters,” Zeghibe said. Team USA to a bronze finish in the In just more than a year, this three- There is a wide range in skill level and team event at the 2014 Winter Olympic sheet facility was built with plenty of interest in figure skaters who are part of Games in Sochi. bells and whistles. Beyond just the ice the club. There are those who are just sheets, there are other parts that make looking for the sport to be something fun Taking Things Up a Notch this facility a head-turner. that he or she does at the recreational In the midst of the club’s success, there It starts with an open lobby concept level. However, there are some aspiring to started to be calls for a new, modern that allows users to see into the rinks. Olympic dreams, too. Skating Club of Boston. Zeghibe said these The main sheet is the performance “Whatever type of skating you want conversations go back nearly 20 years. center. It’s an Olympic-sized sheet that USICERINKS.COM NOVEMBER.DECEMBER.2020 / 19 Featured Rink The Skating Club of Boston | | Norwood, Mass. The newly- RINK BREAKDOWN added off-ice workout facility is SQUARE FEET designed for both 180,000 off-ice training and medical treatment. 2 1 NHL-SIZE RINKS OLYMPIC-SIZE RINK 200' x 85' 200' x 100' OPENED TENANTS: The Skating Club of Boston, Norwood High School, The Marilyn 2020 P. Kasputys Center SEPTEMBER Branch of the Micheli Center for Sports Injury can hold up to 2,500 spectators in Prevention, Home Ice FUN FACT: upholstered seats. The Skating Club LIGHTING of Boston is one The second figure skating rink can IN ARENA LED of three figure- seat up to 1,500 spectators. Like the SPECIAL skating clubs in main sheet, this one is designed specifi- FEATURES: the country to own cally for figure skaters. The third sheet SEATING CAPACITY their own facility. The Marilyn P. Kasputys is NHL-sized and can be used for both , This facility was Branch of the Micheli designed and built figure skating and hockey. Center for Sports Injury by figure skaters “What’s unique about our facility Prevention offers in-house for the primary use is it’s a facility put together for figure 4,350 injury prevention and of figure skaters. skaters,” Zeghibe said. “It’s built around East/Hockey Rink: 350 treatment services for athletes of every sport. figure skating with a little bit of hockey Performance Center: This includes on-site 2,500 (purely figure skating) mixed in.” radiology, ultrasound, RINK FLOORS One of the off-ice facilities that West Rink: physical therapy, sports sparked excitement for those involved 1,500 (purely figure skating) nutrition and CONCRETE sports psychology with the project comes in the Marilyn P. services and Kasputys Branch of The Micheli Center strength training. LOCKER ROOMS for Sports Injury Prevention. This space The facility also is more than 4,000 square feet designed includes a high- for athletes to execute off-ice condition- altitude training room to prepare ing and get medical treatment. competitive skaters One feature of this area in particular to compete at is the high-altitude training area. altitude while “You can dial in an altitude of about training at home. anywhere in the world,” Zeghibe said. 9 “You can dial it up to what the altitude is in Colorado Springs and simulate train- REFRIGERATION SYSTEM: SKATING/HOCKEY ing in that altitude to prepare before PROGRAMS: The Skating Club R-134a & Glycol going there for a competition.” of Boston, Norwood High School, Hayden Synchronized Skating, The off-ice dance center will also Team Excel Synchronized benefit those skaters with 1,600 square ICE RESURFACERS: Skating, Theatre on Ice of Boston feet to move around. 3 BATTERY-POWERED and Learn to Skate USA As for the spectators, the club lounge will be a space where guests can see 20 / NOVEMBER.DECEMBER.2020 USICERINKS.COM PHOTOS: SKATING CLUB OF BOSTON M-series Reciprocating Compressor what’s happening in both of the figure skating exclusive sheets of ice. There is room for as many as 500 people to dine “The most efficient solution while spectating. There is space for din- for ice rinks” ing, lounging, eating and drinking. Other key features include the Club Library and Academic Center. During the coronavirus pandemic, this area is being utilized by kids doing distance learning. They can do their schoolwork in this area and then go to the rink for practice time. •15% energy savings Opening and Adapting •Lower running costs On Sept. 7, the Skating Club of Boston •Minimal oil carry over held a private ceremony to celebrate the first skate at the new facility in •Improved ice quality Norwood. With all in attendance masked, Maxim Naumov kicked off the event with the first skate. He is a 2020 U.S. junior champion figure skater. While the facility opened amidst the pandemic caused by COVID-19, it has been a place for skaters in the area to continue their passions. Like most facili- ties, the club has implemented measures such as temperature taking, social dis- tancing, no spectators and more. “We’ve been so cautious and so prepared with our health screenings,” Jepson said. “There was an adjustment period, but we are getting some nor- malcy with skaters on the ice.” Despite that, the team has helped usher in a new era in Norwood. That’s come while the community around the club’s new facility arrives with a figure skating mission in mind. “Norwood is a really big hockey com- munity,” Zeghibe said.