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Thompson Ice Hockey Arena

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Constructed in 1975, Thompson Arena serves as the home for Dartmouth's "Big Green" men's and women's ice hockey teams. In 2022, Dartmouth began implementing its Gender Equity Plan, positioning Thompson Arena as a vital element of this initiative and highlighting the college's commitment to promoting gender equity within varsity athletics. 

As a result of this initiative, the project includes the addition of approximately 11,050 square feet on the eastern side of the arena, as well as approximately 12,100 square feet of interior renovations to the existing Thompson Arena. The new addition will create needed space to expand program accommodations—equitable locker room and team room spaces, Smoyer Lounge, coaches' suite, and a new elevator. The renovation within the existing facility will complement the addition with locker room and team room updates, new sports medicine and training rooms, new strength and conditioning space, and visitor locker room updates. Additionally, the project includes a mechanical systems upgrade—transitioning from steam to hot water heating systems—in both Thompson Arena and the nearby Graham Indoor Practice Facility (IPF). This transition is part of Dartmouth's decarbonization effort to reach carbon zero operations by 2050. 

PROJECT GOALS

  • Create two equitable varsity locker rooms on ice level 

  • Co-locate coaches' offices and program support within the arena 

  • Improve sports medicine and training spaces 

  • Create mechanical space required for the hot water conversion by relocating Smoyer Lounge. 

PROJECT TIMING

  • Construction begins January 2, 2025, and is anticipated to be complete by August 2026.  
  • Construction will be divided into three major phases: 
  • Phase 1 focuses primarily on the addition and the renovation of site conditions. The anticipated completion date is fall 2025. 
  • A portion of the Thompson parking lot will be inaccessible and used as construction laydown space until mid-fall 2025. Construction fencing will be installed to indicate the blocked-off area. Please refer to signage for impacts. 
  • Ongoing construction will occur along the eastern side of Thompson. The Dartmouth community is encouraged to use the main Thompson Arena entrance on the west for access to the building. 
  • The existing tennis courts north of Thompson will be removed and will serve as construction laydown space and are no longer accessible to the Dartmouth community. 
  • Phase 2 focuses on the energy upgrades to the mechanical systems, and the estimated completion date is spring 2026. 
  • Phase 3 will complete the interior renovations and all site work. The anticipated completion date is late summer/early fall 2026. 

WHAT'S CURRENTLY HAPPENING

  • Preparing to mobilize and establish the construction site for the duration of the project: 
    • Construction of a temporary access road from Austin Avenue to the service road between Thompson Arena and Boss Tennis Center