Medicine Hat city committee approves Regional Event Centre project
The design build plans for the proposed Medicine Hat Regional Event Centre in the city of Medicine Hat, Canada has been approved by the Public Service Committee and is now up for approval before the city council.
The committee also approved the design-build contract valued at $61.4 million to PCL Construction Management Inc. The new event centre would replace the 43-year-old Medicine Hat Arena and would be located southeast to northwest on Box Springs Road.
As reported in Medicine Hat News, the initial design plans include bowl seating for 5,101, which is about 1,100 more than the current arena with standing room space for 240 and further 260 spaces in corporate boxes arranged along both sides of the upper level. This level will house press box and gameday production offices. An upper seating tier in one end would be left unfinished, which could be furnished later as per demand and seat another 930.
The lower-bowl seats at the opposite end of the arena would be made retractable to accommodate a large stage for concerts with the video score clock to be lifted towards the ceiling to provide good views. The total seating for concerts is expected to be 7,055, while seating for hockey could be up to 7,059, said Medicine Hat News.
The initial design presented before the city committee also features additional seats for hockey fans, more washrooms, and a standing room fitted out with drink holders and coat hooks to help people view the game in the traditional “communal setting.”
The design of the centre has more circulation with additional legroom. A top-loading concourse has been proposed overlooking the sunken seating bowl, which would make the game more accessible. A large foyer would be featured at the ground level main entrance that would include a merchandise store and box office. The new top-loading concourse can be reached through another set of doors, and include vendors and a lounge area with the possibility for a patio.
One side of the lower level of the centre would house an expanded Tigers administration offices, team dressing rooms, and penalty boxes. On the other side of the lower level, four ‘community dressing rooms’ will be featured that could be converted into two larger dressing rooms. As per demand, the remaining space could be utilised for washrooms, floor seating during concerts, storage for transforming the rink, or food preparation space for vendors.
The Medicine Hat Arena project will come up for vote before the city council on 17 June 2013.
