Toscano Family Ice Forum

The University of Connecticut’s new ice arena, the Toscano Family Ice Forum, opened its doors in January 2023. Located on UConn’s Storrs campus, the state-of-the-art facility boasts an initial seating capacity of 2,600, designed for potential future expansion to accommodate up to 3,500 spectators. Serving as the proud home for UConn’s men’s and women’s hockey teams, the arena hosts collegiate matches, offers rental opportunities for recreational groups and other youth hockey leagues and organizations, and stands as a testament to UConn’s commitment to fostering athletic excellence and community engagement.

In joining the Hockey East Association in 2014, UConn promised to meet the conference’s requirement of an on-campus arena. Replacing UConn’s outdated existing rink, the new arena is designed to meet NCAA Division I ice hockey requirements. The new center features two locker rooms – a “wet” locker room for all hockey gear, and a “dry” locker room for all other items. Additionally, the facility includes player lounges, a strength and conditioning room, a hydrotherapy area for advanced training and recovery, an automated shooting room, and offices for coaching staff.

Sustainability goals included various energy and water-efficient design strategies in keeping with the University’s commitment to make its capital projects as environmentally friendly as possible. Ice arenas require specialized HVAC solutions to protect the occupants and assets within the space, focusing on pressurization, humidity, and temperature control. CMTA designed energy-efficient MEP systems for the facility, reducing the arena’s energy consumption by re-using waste heat rejected by the ice plant equipment for alternative uses within the building.