New Ulm Civic Center opens its doors

After four years of planning, design development, Civic Center opens to public

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- New Ulm Mayor Joel Albrecht well remembers when the idea for a new civic center began to sprout in New Ulm several years ago.

Things went slow at first.

Meeting after meeting seemed to go nowhere, Albrecht said Saturday as he strolled the upper level of the new $7.3 million, 84,963 square foot facility. Things took a turn for the better when a consulting firm was hired that help create trust and new, creative thinking.

Among the results was a half-cent sales tax that New Ulm voters approved by a large margin in November 2000.

The new revenue helped finance the new civic center, a major addition to the New Ulm Community Center (formerly known as the Senior Center) and the renovation of the former Vogel Arena to Vogel Field House. The field house will include indoor basketball, volleyball and tennis courts and a running/walking track.

The civic center follows four years of planning and design development by the City of New Ulm, the New Ulm Park and Recreation Commission and many community groups. It was designed by Rozeboom Miller Architects of Minneapolis and built by Heymann Construction Co. of New Ulm.

Albrecht said the civic center continued the tradition of the way public buildings have been constructed in New Ulm for years.

"Each is a gorgeous structure, beautiful and efficient," Albrecht said. He was quick to point out that the new sales tax money is 11 percent ahead of the collection schedule.

New Ulm High School boys' hockey coach Tom Macho sounded particularly excited as he toured the civic center.

"This is something else isn't it?" Macho said. He has been coaching hockey in New Ulm for decades, beginning with youth programs at Westside (now Harman Park). "I've been to virtually every ice facility in Minnesota. This is gorgeous, state-of-the-art."

The civic center features two ice sheet/exhibition areas, the better to serve the New Ulm hockey programs and the New Ulm Figure Skating Club.

The South Arena is Olympic size (100 x 200 feet with bleacher seating for 1,000). The North Arena is National Hockey League regulation size (85 x 200 feet) with bleacher seating for 300. Without ice, either arena will accommodate dry floor shows and other events.

The Civic Center replaced Vogel Arena, located at the Family Recreation Center, as New Ulm's ice facility and "large space" dry-floor venue. Vogel Arena opened in 1981. There are 240 parking stalls next to the civic center. An additional 800 parking stalls are available on leased fairgrounds property.

Ice refrigeration units are capable of maintaining proper ice on two rinks from September through March. One rink could have ice year-around and is air conditioned.

A heat recovery unit utilizes waste heat produced by the refrigeration system to heat the building. In-floor radiant heating is used in both bleacher areas, the entrance vestibule, lobbies, office staff spaces, skate changing areas and first floor public rest rooms.

The building includes eight team rooms, four of which have direct access to shower/rest rooms. A community room and warming kitchen for on-site food catering is also included.

For more information, contact Staffing/Events Coordinator Cheryl Kormann at 359-8340 and visit www.ci.new-ulm.mn.us.