Photo Credit: Lonnie Laffen / JLG Architects
If there’s one indicator that a person is near an ice hockey locker room, it’s the smell, the deep, cloying, and seemingly permanent funk of hockey equipment and the dark and dingy changing rooms that house it. However, the good news is that recent design trends mean these sweat-filled spaces can be bright, clean, and smelling better than ever. Additionally, if the right number of locker rooms of the correct size and location within an arena are provided, facility directors will have a winning combination for generations to come.
Before odor issues are addressed, the basic requirements for locker rooms must be examined. For most designers and their clients, ice hockey facilities—and the respective locker rooms—fall into three categories, each having space and amenity needs that differ slightly:
Community or youth rinks Youth competition rinks (including high school) Competitive junior or AAA-style rinks.