RENOWNED ARCHITECT USES STEELMASTER STRUCTURAL SYSTEM IN ICE RINK RENOVATION

SteelMaster® Structural Systems announced today (December 29) that their steel arch panel system has been incorporated into a building plan designed by architect Helmut Jahn. A newly renovated ice rink will be home ice for Pomfret School, a private school located in Connecticut.

SteelMaster provided Pomfret School with a unique twist on its T-Model which is basically a three sided building. At 240 feet in length the SteelMaster section will be part of a new steel and glass lobby. The new rink, scheduled to open for the 2004/2005 seasons, will be a massive 31,680 square feet. SteelMaster’s portion uses both 14 and 18 gauge steel that will meet or exceed the heavy snow loads common for the Northeastern region of the United States.

“We were able to work very closely with the designer to make what they wanted,” says Troy Cupp, a Senior Design Specialist with SteelMaster. “After we created a concept that met the demands of the designer we were able to give the information to our in-house engineers and they did the physics of the project.” Fortunato Construction, the contractor erecting the building, ordered the SteelMaster section in April of 2004 and accepted delivery in August of the same year. “It may seem like the amount of time between the order and delivery was minimal, but that was just the fabrication time; we had been working with them for almost a year before we got the design ready to be fabricated,” says Cupp.

The renovations to the existing rink include locker rooms and showers for four visiting teams as well as for the four competitive Pomfret teams; coaches and referee locker rooms that include showers; and new spectator seating with radiant heating. The newly renovated rink will replace the existing one that was built in 1964. The Jahn Rink, as it has been named, will be home to the four competitive boys and girl’s teams, two local school teams, an active youth hockey program, a local men’s league and provides open skating for the community. Pomfret is a private college preparatory school located in Connecticut and is central to both New York City and Boston. The institution is highly regarded by The Boarding School Review. 350 students attend Pomfret and many live on campus. -more- Pomfret School – 2

SteelMaster is a viable option for architecturally designed building and roofing projects that can utilize a curved system. The arch style system is very strong and by manipulating the gauge of steel the strength can be adjusted to meet just about any environmental and building requirements. “In addition to the superior strength, the arch system has grown in popularity among architects recently for its rugged yet refined looks,” says William Swafford, a Design Specialist with SteelMaster. The cost of building is reduced with an arch style system as well. The system is self supporting and eliminates the need for interior supports or scaffolding, this also creates more interior space.