The million dollar renovation of the ice rink in Erding is about to be completed.
Erding - When ice hockey teams were guests in the Erdinger ice rink, there was generally praise for one of the most beautiful ice rinks in Bavaria.
But appearances were deceptive, it was mostly just a facade, as had only turned out a few years ago.
Blatant construction defects had been diagnosed, especially in the area of fire protection.
Comprehensive renovation work began in 2019.
In addition, the Stadtwerke, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the city of Erding, decided to build a new extension on the west side of the hall.
For this purpose, the so-called "old stock" was torn away immediately after the end of the 2018/19 ice hockey season, i.e. the building with cash desk, kiosk, changing rooms and toilet facilities that had been open since the ice rink was opened at the end of the 1970s.
In 1994 a hall was built over the existing ice rink and connected to the old building.
Now deficiencies became apparent in almost all areas.
“The trigger for the whole thing was fire protection,” recalls architect Ulrich Reiser from the Erdinger office “Architekt.ur”.
"We then sat down with our partners and thought about what we could do," says Stadtwerke managing director Christopher Ruthner.
"Ideas flowed in from many corners, also from the club side." He is very proud of the extension with the large gallery: "That turns it into an arena." Robert Meier, head of the leisure facilities, values the statement, " that we really analyzed everything with our partners and kept thinking: What can be done better? "
Those responsible had actually hoped to be ready in September 2020.
A goal that was too ambitious, as it finally turned out, because construction is still going on in January 2021.
The fact that Corona actually played into the cards for those responsible because ice skating, training and games were not possible is something that everyone strictly rejects.
“That hit us too,” defends architect Tobias Eder.
Above all, the supply of building materials was delayed, so that the schedule was soon behind schedule.
“It was built in two sections,” explains Reiser.
“First in the cabins and technical rooms, and then it was the turn of the extension.” Ruthner adds: “We practically made a virtue out of necessity.
If you already have money in hand, then you can also make it really high quality right away. ”The supervisory board then approved all decisions.
"And for the money you also have a corresponding added value," says Ruthner.
The architect Reiser even speaks of "insane added value": "Before it was an ice rink, now it is an arena."
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The ice rink will be called “Stadtwerke Erding Arena” in future.
When it started in the hall in 2019, new escape routes were first built, but other things were also tackled at the same time.
The difficulty: In order to lose as little time as possible, this work had to be started while the ice hockey game was in progress.
“We tried to get it done with as little disruption as possible,” says the Stadtwerke boss, and Reiser emphasizes: “A renovation while business is still going on is always incredibly difficult.” After all, the ice skating and ice hockey business was during the 2019/20 season "Can be permanently maintained" - despite the sometimes intensive mold control in the rooms under the grandstands and extremely low temperatures in the cabins.
Eder makes it clear that the ice-making process was delayed by three weeks last autumn, that wasn't her fault.
It took so long to deliver material.
"But we never had a total breakdown at any company," reports Reiser.
"And it is also impossible to tell that a company would have slipped." Reiser does not want to ignore the fact that there were unpleasant surprises.
“This is common when renovating old buildings,” he notes.
And he frankly admits that one or the other mistake has happened.
“There is not a single large construction site without faults,” he emphasizes.
"Mistakes can often not be avoided, their rectification is everyday business for me." All kinds of complicated fixtures were required.
“And there were also circumstances that we couldn't influence,” adds Eder.
"For example, the storm tore off an emergency roof twice." Stadtwerke boss Ruthner does not rule out the possibility that one or the other mistake could appear later: "That will only prove itself in use."
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There is more space at the new kiosk with two delivery windows.
In the case of the additional escape routes - two of which were created at ground level to the ice surface - the main consideration was to multiple uses of the hall.
“If, for example, events take place in the hall during Sinnflut, you need these escape routes,” explains Eder, who points out: “The toilets were a big issue.” In the past, long queues formed - mostly in the third breaks.
"Now we have five times as many toilets, which is noticeable for every visitor." Among other things, three toilets for the disabled are available in the extension.
"We tried to be prepared for all situations - be it ice hockey, flood or autumn festival," says Eder.
It is now possible, for example, that if an ice hockey game takes place during the autumn festival, the folk festival guests on one floor have access to the toilet facilities from the outside, and the ice hockey spectators on another floor from the inside.
So you don't get in each other's way anymore.
Many decisions that cost additional money were also made at short notice during construction.
And according to Reiser, those responsible asked themselves not just once: “Are we leaving the old things or are we going to do something new?” For example, the ventilation was dismantled and a combined smoke and ventilation system installed.
“It just happened like that,” says Eder.
There was constant discussion and constant exchange, explains Reiser.
In principle: "What costs more, lasts longer."
The showers were also still being refurbished, which was actually only planned at a later date, adds Ruthner.
And the loudspeaker system has also been completely renewed, although the level is not yet perfect.
"Concrete, glass and ice - we have a lot of hard components," says Eder, and Stadtwerke authorized representative Thomas Altstetter adds: "It is very difficult to adjust the system perfectly because of the reverberation it makes a difference whether the hall is is empty, or whether there are spectators. ”You will probably have to readjust accordingly when the game has started again.
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The new changing rooms for the public run can be shared if necessary.
A lot has happened in the rooms on the south side, where the hall technology is now almost exclusively.
“It has become much more efficient,” explains architect Eder.
"So many things happened there that are not visible to the visitor, but are very important for security - and also cost a lot of money."
A big issue was the tightness of the basement rooms to the grandstand, explains Stadtwerke boss Ruthner.
"The joints were damaged and sometimes worked up to two centimeters," adds Eder.
It was important which materials were used for sealing and what the best solution was, says Ruthner: "That's just the way it is with an old building, but we have found solutions for everything."
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The rental ice skates are housed in new sliding shelves.
The architect Reiser describes the relocation of the Eismeister premises from the west to the east side as an “immense improvement”.
Alone for safety reasons, because now there is no longer any “cross-spectator traffic”.
"There was always a certain potential for danger when driving in and out," emphasizes Altstetter.
In addition, there is now a ramp available on which maintenance work can be carried out much more easily, as well as a new melting basin where the ice machine can be emptied, "with a huge capacity and sewer connection", as Eder states.
And a roll-up fire protection door, "which costs money again, but is totally safe".
Those responsible in this regard would like to give the Eismeister boss Robert Gruber great praise.
“It's amazing what he has achieved here,” says Altstetter, for example.
"He was always there and approachable at any time."
After all, the showpiece is the extension.
The checkout area remains, the kiosk has moved from the south-west to the north-west corner - with two display windows and significantly more space.
In addition, it can now be supplied from outside.
You can get to the first floor via the stairwell, but also via an elevator, which is specially designed for the disabled, who now have their seats on the gallery on the first floor - directly above the ice surface.
“The construction of the gallery was very complicated,” recalls architect Reiser.
“Among other things, everything had to be braced at great expense.” When he looks at the gallery now, it's “actually a masterpiece”.
On the first floor there is also a weight room, fan shop and meeting room, which can be used as a VIP room during the games.
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The escape stairs and terrace on the north-western corner of the hall are new.
When the extension will finally be completed depends primarily on the weather.
“There is still work to be done,” explains Reiser.
The last thing is the commissioning of the digital radio channel for the fire department.
There had recently been technical problems, "and the frequencies still have to be approved".
In any case, Ruthner is pleased when the “Stadtwerke-Arena Erding” can finally be handed over to its destination.
According to those responsible, it is not yet possible to quantify how high the construction costs will ultimately be.
Around five million euros were originally budgeted.
The amount should ultimately be significantly higher, but then in Erding you really have one of the most beautiful ice rinks in all of Bavaria - without any construction or safety defects.
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