PEORIA, Ill. (25 News) – Since construction started earlier this year, the Peoria Civic Center is about halfway through one of its combined $18 million in renovation projects.
25News got an inside look at construction of the arena’s ice plant system used to make ice in large amounts using heavy-duty cooling equipment.
Remaking the ice plant began in May of this year and is costing roughly $5 million. The ice plant system had not been replaced since the Civic Center was built 43 years ago, and according to the staff, it started to leak and piping was outdated.
The work is expected to be done in time for a concert in October.
Updates to the ice plant include five inches of new concrete, about nine miles of new pipes, and an eco-friendly cooling system meant to make the Civic Center more efficient and have better ice for events that use it, including the Rivermen hockey team, Disney on Ice, and other events.
“Were trying to provide high-quality ice for the hockey team,” said Will Kenney, the Civic Center’s operations director.
“We’re also installing a new dasher system (boards around the rink), and that will provide a better viewing experience for the patrons and eliminate most of the polls.”
The glass arcade is being renovated, but it will take until fall of next year for that to be finished.
A new heating and cooling for the arcade is being done, leaks are being repaired, and entrances will get a touch up, too, at a cost of $13 million.
While the arcade is under construction, the theater and convention center are still open.
“The arcade is going to provide a nice atmosphere for all the patrons coming in. And, hopefully, just give them a more comfortable space,” said Kenney.
(Reporting by Angeles Ponpa, 25 News)
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