KINGSTON, R.I. -- May 29, 2002 -- Workers poured 260 cubic yards of concrete Tuesday, May 28, to complete the slab for the ice surface at the University of Rhode Island’s $12 million ice arena.

Completion of the slab follows installation of 11 miles of refrigeration lines for South County’s first indoor ice arena.

About 900 cubic yards of concrete were used to complete the ground-level slab.

Workers continue to paint the overhead steel beams Keaney Blue, while masons have finished the masonry façade on the east side of the building.

Interest in the project has been building since 250 people turned out on the hottest day of summer last August to launch construction of the 2,500-seat ice arena, one of only two ice rinks in Rhode Island that will operate year round. It is set for opening in mid-September.
More than 450 potential players have already expressed interest in the Southern Rhode Island Youth Hockey Organization and Jewell Augustine has been hired to organize Learn-to-Skate programs for the community.

A.F. Lusi Construction Inc. of Greenville is building the arena, while Symmes Maini & McKee Associates of Cambridge, Mass., is working with Lusi on the architectural and engineering portion of the 60,000-square-foot project. HOK Sports Facility Group of Kansas City, architects for the Convocation Center, prepared the bid specification documents for the ice arena. Gilbane Building Co. is the program manager for both the ice arena and Convocation Center.

When it opens in September, the arena will be available seven days a week, 15 hours a day.

For Information: Dave Lavallee 401-874-2116