Derby Ice Arena
Mixed Use
Project
Derby Ice Arena is a proposed multi-use venue aimed at revitalising the city centre and establishing a dynamic sporting hub alongside Pride Park Stadium and the velodrome. Designed to host sports, conferences, and live performances, it also features public and private gyms to promote health and community engagement.
Reflecting the site’s industrial and railway heritage, the architecture incorporates red brick, metallic finishes, and a striking arched entrance, while staggered vertical fins on the façade create shifting patterns of light and shadow, symbolising movement associated with ice sports.
Research
Sustainable building design was a key focus throughout the project; however, the unique demands of the building typology, such as maintaining freezing temperatures of the ice surface alongside ensuring spectator comfort, presented significant energy consumption challenges. The study focuses on optimising HVAC systems for the project layout, aiming to reduce energy consumption and meet sustainability targets. Eight HVAC configurations were evaluated using Autodesk Insight simulations, identifying the ASHRAE Package Heat Pump as the most effective. Further analysis of refrigerants determined CO₂ as the optimal choice due to its low global warming potential and system compatibility. Implementing this combined HVAC and refrigerant system is expected to save around 122.69 MWh annually.
