The Starion Sports Complex is a multi-sport facility featuring two sheets of ice, a competition gymnastics facility, synthetic outdoor athletic field, and synthetic running track. The 84,000 square foot facility is owned and operated by the Mandan Park District. Tenants include University of Mary Hockey, Mandan School District, Mandan Hockey Club, and Dakota Star Gymnastics.
Common spaces, such as concessions, meeting rooms, toilet rooms, mechanical and electrical rooms are shared by all tenants along a common concourse to reduce redundancy and save construction and operations expenses.
The client requested that the ice rinks be the star of the show in this competition facility, and so floor-to-ceiling glass was installed in each rink so that anyone walking by would have direct visual access to the gameplay. Public skate rental is available on the ice level, and a Pro Shop on the lower lobby level provides views and access to the rinks, along with dry land training space. Locker rooms were placed below the competition rink bleachers to give a clear delineation of public and private space.
On the gymnastics side, the program wanted total privacy and control of their space during training and competition. Visitors enter into a separate gymnastics lobby, with cubby storage. Elevated bleachers were set alongside of the space to provide optimal views for parents. Foam pits and tumbling tracks were recessed into the floor to add height to the space.
The facility is highly visible from Interstate 94, especially when the main concourse and grand stair are abuzz with activity during sporting events. The facility stair-steps across the 24-acre site to minimize site disturbance costs and take advantage of existing topography. For visual excitement, the design team worked with the pre-engineered metal building manufacturer to flip the columns to the outside of the gymnastics wing to give the south side of the facility its angled shape. The football bleachers were rotated away from the building to create an outdoor plaza space between the back of the stadium seating and the hockey rink. The outer skin of the building was recessed in this area to create a more dynamic plaza space.