Kettler Capitals Iceplex

Project Team

Structural Engineer: Rathgeber/ Goss Associates
Owner: Lincoln Holdings/Arlington County
Architect: Architecture, Inc.
General Contractor: Sigal Construction
Steel Joist Manufacturer: New Millennium Building Systems
Steel Detailer: Mountain Enterprises
Steel Fabricator: Banker Steel
Steel Erector: Williams Steel Erectors

Project Type: Unique Application

Project Description

The National Hockey League’s Washington Capitals have been practicing outside of the metropolitan area for years while playing home games in Washington, DC. The Kettler Capitals Iceplex located in Arlington, Virginia, has brought the Capitals training facilities back to the DC area. With views of the Washington Monument, the facility houses 2 NHL size, indoor skating rinks, a state-of-the-art training facility, seating for 1200 fans, the Capitals’ administrative offices, a pro shop and areas for special events. The renovation added approximately 137,000 square feet of conditioned space and 75,000 square feet of parking above an existing 7 story parking garage. This project posed several structural challenges related to the project location, the limitations of the existing structure, and support of the ice rinks.

What Makes This Project Interesting

The project location was the primary challenge to constructing the iceplex. The ice rinks and roof were to be stacked on the existing composite steel parking garage which had the reserve capacity to support less than 1/3 of the total weight of the new expansion. The superimposed load of the rink system was 130 psf. Combined with the 75 psf dead load of the structure and a 100 psf live load, the total load was 305 psf whereas the existing structure was designed for 100 psf total vertical expansion. In order to support the new construction, all existing 2-story steel columns were encased in concrete with continuous rebar to provide the additional required strength. The concrete and rebar were then extended 6 feet above the top level to provide a pedestal on which to connect the new steel columns. Since the corporate offices and fitness center had to be located over the post-tensioned portion of the concrete garage, testing was performed in order to show that the concrete had gained significant strength over time which reduced the number of concrete columns requiring carbon fiber reinforcing to only 11. Additionally, preliminary design indicated that nearly all of the spread footings below the original 1950 garage had to be expanded. Subsequent testing of the soils was able to justify higher than original bearing capacities thereby eliminating the need to expand all but 2 column footings. The expansion joints were not able to translate directly up through the new structure and had to be transferred by a network of slide bearing connections which were carefully coordinated with the interior and exterior architectural finishes.

Advantages Of The Chosen Structural System

The structural steel system was the lightest system considered thereby minimizing the amount of strengthening required for the existing structure.

Project Scope

A composite steel structural system was used for both the rink building and the corporate/training facility in order to minimize the dead load of the expansion. 68” deep, long span roof joists were used to provide the 120 foot clear span over the regulation 85 foot wide rinks. At the south end of the rinks, 120 foot long by 12 foot deep custom steel trusses were designed to support the end of the high roof and provide joist bearing for the low roof at the front of the building. The trusses were designed with WT members as top and bottom chords and double angle diagonals to make fabrication and erection as simple as possible. Additionally, a 90 foot span custom truss was also designed to support the long span joists above the players’ rink in order to eliminate the need for columns within the players’ bench.

Project Details

Project Construction Cost: $36M
Size (square ft.): 212,000
Roof area using joists (square ft.): 90,000
Joist area (square ft.): 90,000

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