Work began last week on the University's new Connecticut Ice Arena, only days after the Huskies' hockey season concluded.

The new, enclosed arena, which will use the current refrigeration unit and surface, will encompass 53,000 square feet, including a 200x85 foot skating rink, as many as 1,700 seats, two varsity home team locker rooms, four visiting team and youth league locker rooms, an officials' locker area, as well as offices for coaches, a warming area, hospitality room, and concessions area.

Workers from HRH Atlas Construction, the firm that is also the lead contractor on the new physics/biology building, knocked down the 35-year-old warming shed last week and, possibly as soon as this week, will begin carefully "sliding" the roof off the open-air rink. Once the roof and seating have been removed, says Larry Schilling, University architect, work can begin on the new structure.

The $3.8 million building, including some funds contributed by the Division of Athletics, is expected to be completed by October, in time for the new skating and hockey season - with or without El Niño.

Richard Veilleux