by Ron Nyren
Ten venues provide places for community members to gather, play, compete, learn, and enhance wellness.
#3 - Great Park Ice and FivePoint Arena
Great Park Ice and FivePoint Arena brings ice to the desert, Southern California style. A palm-lined walkway leads past a sandy beach and boardwalk to the complex, which includes three ice rinks sized to meet National Hockey League (NHL) standards and a fourth that is Olympic-size. In addition to offering public skating hours, the 270,000-square-foot (25,000 sq m) ice center serves as training ground for the Anaheim Ducks NHL team and for Olympic figure skaters. It also includes restaurants, a Ducks team store, a pro shop, a dry land training area, and private facilities for the Ducks.
The local office of LPA Design Studios designed the ice center with a silver-finned, rippled facade, referencing ocean waves. A two-story lobby with extensive glazing provides circulation for all four rinks. Insulated metal exterior panels, strategic building orientation in relation to the sun, and high-efficiency refrigeration systems reduce energy consumption. The local nonprofit group Irvine Ice Foundation served as developer and holds a 50-year lease, after which ownership transfers to the city. The ice center was completed in 2019...
