A new facility allows players and coaches to train more efficiently and effectively, and it instills a sense of pride in both athletes and spectators. At Colgate University, we designed their new ice arena to meet the growing needs of their hockey program and help propel Colgate into the upper echelon of collegiate hockey.

Colgate University, a liberal arts college located in central New York, is known for its strong academics. With local rivals in academics and athletics like Cornell, RPI, and St. Lawrence, it was important that this new facility allow Colgate to compete at the highest level of excellence on the ice. Through this investment the University aimed to demonstrate they are committed not only to stellar academics, but also to the success of their student athletes in their athletic pursuits. With a new facility like the Class of ’65 Arena, they’ve done just that

A new facility also serves as an important recruiting tool for new talent. “[This arena] is the thing that sets us apart from the others that might have similar highlights like academics,” says Sophie Leclerc, Assistant Coach for the Colgate women’s hockey team. “It demonstrates the support that the school has for our program.”

“Colgate is consistently a national player in collegiate ice hockey which means we had the unique opportunity to design a new facility for a program that was already at the top of its game. From the start we partnered with the Colgate Athletics Department to amplify both the player and spectator experience for their Division 1 hockey program,” says Bill Massey, AIA, principal on the project. “Our goal was to make this facility exciting from the moment you drive up to the entry on game day to the drop of the puck and final buzzer. The Colgate team was instrumental in making sure we hit every mark. We’re extremely proud of the result and it goes without saying that this project sets a new benchmark for our Sports Practice.”

With Colgate’s new Class of ’65 Ice Arena the university has shown that they are seriously committed to the athletic experience as part of the overall Colgate experience. In so doing, its reach extends far beyond a single team or cross-section of the student-body—the arena and its impact on the hockey program serves to reinforce school culture and catalyze new energy for all students, staff, alumni, and local residents, alike.

See what coaches, alumni, and students have to say about the Class of ’65 Arena below