Top Tips for Building an Ice Rink

Ice rinks are a staple in communities across the country.

Whether large or small, building an ice rink involves many steps, stages, and decisions. Our team has spent a lot of time in rinks over the years, watching innovative ideas come to life and learning what truly makes these facilities successful. One thing is clear: finding the right partners matters, but so does thinking beyond the traditional approach.

Here are our top tips for building a modern ice rink.

1. Put user-friendliness at the top of your list

For many families and athletes, skating is a significant investment, yet the experience doesn’t always match the cost. Creating real value means designing a facility that elevates the experience from the moment someone walks through the door.

User-friendliness goes beyond aesthetics. Amenities should reflect how people actually use the space, whether that’s reliable Wi-Fi, dedicated study or gathering areas, or services like equipment washing.

Another growing conversation centers on elevating the locker room experience. Larger lockers and higher-quality finishes can create a more refined feel, but it ultimately comes down to understanding your audience. Consider who your users are and what will make their time at the rink easier, more comfortable and more memorable.

Additional elements to explore include improved lighting, thoughtful daylighting and better vantage points to enhance the spectator experience, along with upgraded food and beverage options that go beyond basic concessions for long days at the rink

2. Get everyone on the same page

At HTG, we talk a lot about our inVision process. It’s an approach designed to account for every stage of the design and build process, no matter who you’re building with. One of its biggest benefits is alignment, making sure everyone involved shares the same vision from the start.

Through inVision, we create space for every voice to be heard. We ask deeper questions to uncover what each stakeholder truly wants and needs, ensuring the final result reflects shared goals. This isn’t a canned design delivered to you: it’s a solution shaped by your priorities and your community.

3. Think about the community

An ice rink is more than a building. It’s a hub for health, fitness, teamwork, and connection. When we work with clients, we spend time exploring how the rink can reflect and support the broader community. What’s the local culture? What’s the history? How can those elements be thoughtfully woven into the design?

Community members often become part of the staff as well, which makes operational efficiency critical. We design rinks to adapt to changing needs, allowing operations to run smoothly with fewer staff during slow periods while scaling easily during busy times. Clear sightlines, efficient layouts, and flexible stations help ensure one person can manage multiple functions when needed, while still allowing each area to staff up fully when crowds are high.

When a rink is designed with its users, team, and community in mind, it becomes a space that serves far beyond the ice.

Design with experience that shows on and off the ice

HTG has designed ice rinks of all sizes across the country, helping communities create facilities that are functional, efficient and built to last. From early visioning through design and delivery, our team understands the unique operational, user and community demands that come with rink projects.

If you’re thinking about building a new rink or reimagining an existing one, let’s start the conversation. Contact HTG to explore how our experience and process can help you create a rink that serves your community for years to come