Sacred Heart University Hockey Arena to Install Smart Windows

Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn., announced recently that it will install Smart Windows by View, Inc., at its new Martire Family Arena. The facility will play home to the university’s men’s and women’s hockey programs, as well as club hockey teams and the school’s figure skating team. The arena is scheduled to open to the public in January 2023.

According to a news release, the arena is part of a multi-year campus expansion program. Designers wanted to include natural light as part of the rink’s design but were worried that the associated heat would melt the ice. View Smart Windows adjust automatically to direct sunlight using a combination of electrochromic coating and artificial intelligence. The windows can regulate heat and glare while still providing access to natural light. The windows also help reduce energy consumption via HVAC and lighting by up to 20 percent.

Sacred Heart University Martire Family Arena
Sacred Heart University Martire Family Arena

“Skating arenas rarely have windows, but we’re building a venue unlike any other,” said Marc Izzo, Sacred Heart University’s Vice President of Construction & Facilities Management. “Incorporating View Smart Windows throughout our extraordinary ice-skating facility will give players, students and guests a completely new and cutting-edge experience.”

The arena will offer amenities like a pro shop, suits, food venues, meeting rooms and administrative offices. The project’s lead designers are JLG and S/L/A/M Collaborative.

“The opportunity to transform educational and athletic facilities to improve both sustainability and student wellbeing is massive,” said Brian Klansky, Regional Vice President at View. “We’re thrilled to partner with Sacred Heart to integrate wellness and sustainability into the entire student experience.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • UPenn Announces Completion of New Veterinary Education Facility

    The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Penn., recently finished construction on an 11,800-square-foot veterinary education building, according to a news release. The Gail P. Riepe Center for Advanced Veterinary Education is the first dedicated classroom facility at the New Bolton Center, a large-animal hospital and campus about 35 miles west of the campus proper.

  • Montclair State University Starts Construction on $120M STEM Building

    Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J., recently broke ground on a new $120-million Interdisciplinary Science Building, according to university news. The university partnered with HoK Architects for the project’s design, and it’s scheduled to open in time for the 2028–29 academic year.

  • Montclair State University Debuts New VR Facility

    Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J., recently announced the completion of a new virtual reality learning facility developed in partnership with Dreamscape Learn, according to a news release. The 2,450-square-foot lab space is inside the College of Communication and Media building and will serve students pursuing careers in digital media, virtual reality, and content creation.

  • Tomball ISD Opens New Tomball West High School

    Tomball Independent School District in Tomball, Texas, recently celebrated the official opening of Tomball West High School, the district's third comprehensive high school, with a community ribbon-cutting ceremony, according to a district news release.