Northeastern University, Matthews Arena Renovation

Boston, Massachusetts

Firm

Miller Dyer Spears

Client

Northeastern University

Area

107,500 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$11,000,000

Completion Date

10/2009

This comprehensive renovation of historic Matthews Arena upgraded team facilities to new Hockey East standards and improved the overall fan experience. The project included renovation of the Division 1 hockey program’s men’s and women’s locker rooms, offices, visiting team space, players’ lounges, physical therapy, and strength and conditioning areas, as well as new seating, press box, sound system, arena lighting, building-wide ADA upgrades, renovation of concession areas and public toilet rooms, and addition of a new elevator.

The primary goal of the program was to improve the fan and athlete experience by reconfiguring the layout and modernizing the infrastructure and aesthetic. Overall, lighting and space flow are improved vastly. All surfaces where skates are worn are skate-resistant, and the lockers are designed with active air flow to minimize odor and humidity. A glazed partition was fitted into existing brick archways, and transparent film printed with university graphics enables supervision from trainers in sports-medicine space while giving privacy to those receiving physical therapy. The university’s brand is expressed through the use of color, materials and graphics, and provide men’s and women’s hockey programs with facilities that respect both sexes.

The arena is outfitted with high-intensity lighting designed with specialized shutters, creating an instantaneous on/off effect with no lamp heat-up time. New seating and handicapped-accessible platforms improve fan comfort, and a new press box and Jumbotron, along with renovated concessions and restrooms, create a more enjoyable visit.

Special constraints of this project included incorporating cutting-edge equipment and technology into the historic building in a respectful manner; the eight-month construction schedule; the historic nature of the building; and varied constituents with a voice in decisionmaking.