Major overhaul for Barrow arena
BY ADAM MC LEAN | Mar 10, 2011 (STAFF PHOTO/STEVE SOMERVILLE)
Major arena overhaul. Matt Lawlor, facility operator at Elgin Barrow Arena, shows off the new roof exterior during a sneak preview tour of the complex for officials.
Having attended Clarkson University on a hockey scholarship in the 1960s; walking the halls of the newly renovated Elgin Barrow Arena is a familiar environment for provincial Minister of Infrastructure Bob Chiarelli.
“I was a good skater, but I couldn’t handle the puck, so I killed penalties for four years while I earned a business degree,” laughed MPP Chiarelli following his tour Tuesday through the refurbished arena.
Elgin Barrow is just one of 15 federal-provincial infrastructure projects in Richmond Hill to undergo construction or renovations over the last two years.
The town’s first rink opened in 1954, as no more than a sheltered ice sheet constructed with funds raised by the now defunct volunteer Richmond Hill Arena Association.
Since those early strides, the arena on Church Street has undergone numerous additions and the building where many hockey players and figure skaters honed their skills was on the town’s list for revitalization.
Through the infrastructure stimulus program, the cost of more than $4 million for the project was split three ways, with each level of government, including the town, chipping in.
While 15 projects are currently under construction or just completed – ranging from street reconstruction to heritage building refurbishments – the recently completed work at Elgin Barrow Arena was one of the town’s priciest.
The arena now boasts a new roof and new energy efficient insulation overtop both rinks, new steel infrastructure encasing the building and energy efficient lighting systems over both east and west ice pads.
“We wanted to not only make the building more efficient, but we also wanted to give the rinks a brighter feel,” said Italo Bruto, town commissioner of environment and infrastructure services, while leading Mr. Chiarelli and others through the arena.
“It’s all well and good to have behind-the-scenes improvements, but residents said they wanted to be able to see and experience it. By just walking around, you can see the work has been put in,” he added.
Also included in the renovations is a solar hot water heating system, which will help reduce operating expenses and the new fully accessible dressing rooms.
Rather than pushing open a heavy dressing room door, players of varying ability can now simply push a wall button and the door opens. Once inside, new paint, new benches and a fully accessible shower are available.
The new layout provides an opportunity for the arena to host sledge hockey games, following provincial directions for increased accessibility.
While much inside the building has changed or seen an upgrade, there are some remaining features for those who are nostalgic.
The folding blue seats in the east rink – which were moved to Elgin Barrow Arena from Maple Leaf Gardens in the 1980s – still remain, as does the grey flooring around the rink, the white flooring along the concourse above the seats and the hanging crowd heaters and old scoreboard.
While the project is considered a success by the town and Mr. Chiarelli, another cause for pride is that the town avoided going into debt while taking advantage of the stimulus funding.
“This is a success, because this program is about people. It’s great to see numerous people enjoy this for a long time to come,” said the minister.
Mr. Brutto said there were some surprises which arose during construction.
Workers discovered corrosion throughout the structural steel on the east side of the building. This steel lay beneath the outer arena siding and had suffered due to an undetected roof leak.
A drainage issue on the western wall where condensation was entering the building was also detected and remedied. While the damage was significant, neither issue posed danger to the public, said Mr. Bruto.
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