(KNSI) – The Herb Brooks National Hockey Center on the St. Cloud State University campus will be getting a $12.9 million facelift.
Work will begin at the home for Huskies’ hockey in March 2026, after the collegiate hockey season ends, with project completion expected in fall 2026. The project is getting funded in part thanks to the state’s bonding bill, approved by the Minnesota Legislature in June.
The project will replace the arena’s original ice cooling system, which has operated since the facility opened in 1989. The current system uses R-22 refrigerant, which is no longer manufactured and contributes to ozone depletion. SCSU says the new ammonia-based refrigerant system represents a significant upgrade, offering improved energy efficiency and reliability while eliminating harmful ozone-depleting chemicals.
Additional energy-saving measures include LED lighting in both rinks, reducing lighting energy consumption by 35%, and automatic temperature controls that could cut HVAC energy use by up to 20%. The main rink will be reduced to 200 by 94 feet, and the auxiliary rink will be cut to 195 by 85 feet. New dasher boards and protective shielding will be installed to improve player safety.
Public bidding will open this month, with local contractors encouraged to apply.
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