On Wednesday, September 16th, JLG Architects will be in Northfield, MN, to celebrate the grand opening of the new Hasse Ryt-Way Arena, located at 1900 Cannon Road.
Sustainably designed by JLG Architects and built by RJM Construction, the 51,304-square-foot facility sits on seven acres along the Cannon River, drawing inspiration from the formation of the scenic waterway and its tributaries.
The new arena, serving both Northfield and Dundas communities, provides one NHL-size ice sheet with seating for 499, upgraded locker rooms with private showers and restrooms, a multi-purpose room, a mother’s room, ADA accessible ramps/elevators, concessions, skate rental, viewing areas, a multi-use dryland training area, and dedicated team, coach, and referee spaces. Prepared for anticipated program growth, the facility’s infrastructure is designed to accommodate future ice arena expansion to the north.
Aligned with the City of Northfield’s broader Sustainable Building Policy, the project integrates LEED Silver ice arena criteria, including healthy materials, solar array, daylighting, and electric vehicle charging stations. In spearheading the project’s LEED documentation, JLG Architects has noted an 88% reduction in electricity costs, a 76% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, a 53% reduction in overall energy use, and a 42% reduction in water usage.
“It’s exciting to see the impacts of the City of Northfield’s Sustainable Building Policy,” said JLG Sustainability Manager Chayna Claeys, AIA, LEED AP, LFA. “It sets a standard for efficient and healthy construction, and the Hasse Ryt-Way Arena met the challenge. The arena combines innovative design with a commitment to the community to create a project that improves the health and well-being of our athletes, which also benefits the environment.”
IN-DEMAND ICE PROGRAMMING
Construction of the Hasse Ryt-Way Arena reflects the generosity of the Hasse family and the investment of the school district, the City of Northfield, the neighboring City of Dundas, and two programs that have experienced a 19% growth over the last five years alone: Northfield Youth Hockey Association and Northfield Skating School. The new arena will also be home ice for the Northfield Raiders high school hockey teams.
DESIGN DETAILS
JLG led the project with a systems-thinking approach that helps the facility expand with program demand while enhancing community connection and well-being.
“From a design context standpoint, we really leaned into the river community and milling history of both Northfield and Dundas,” said JLG Architects’ Sports Studio Leader Tom Betti, AIA, NCARB. “And because we pursued LEED Silver certification, we really played into natural lighting solutions, like the high clerestory windows that draw natural light deep into the arena, substantially reducing reliance on artificial lighting.”
In a call-for-artists process, the City of Northfield selected local artist Michael Sweere to do a large-scale mosaic mural behind the rink seating. Sweere is known for utilizing reclaimed materials, stones, and other found objects. The City of Northfield held community ceramic-mural workshops, allowing residents—including Mayor Erica Zweifel—to contribute pieces to the mural. The mural is part of Northfield’s Percent for Public Art requirement for capital projects.
FRAMING THE LANDSCAPE
On its Cannon River site, the sustainable arena connects to nature through JLG’s innovative canopy design that channels rainwater irrigation to a single, intentionally planted tree.
“Here, the architecture doesn’t enclose the landscape; it frames, nourishes, and merges for a really unique arrival experience,” said JLG Project Designer Teddy Gustafson, AIA, LFA, LEED Green Associate, WELL AP. “The canopy opens into a circular oculus — precisely proportioned to frame the sky above and the Minnesotan landscape below. Through the oculus, light, water, and time transform the view with each passing season. A single tree, positioned below, becomes a living focal point that blurs the boundary between architecture and landscape.”
For the lobby’s interior finishes, JLG’s design mimics both the rhythmic skating stride and movement of water, demonstrated within the ceiling’s unique acoustic baffles. Unlike traditional arena entries that have an arrival elevated over the ice, the arena’s lobby is intentionally designed to remain at one level.
“Without varying elevations, the arena becomes a much more accessible place to host community events,” said Betti. “Events like Northfield’s annual book fair, which brings in everyone from children to seniors, is really important to the community. So, we needed to simplify ice transition and navigation, not just for those attending, but for those setting up and hauling in thousands of books.”
“It’s exciting to celebrate the opening of a community-driven project 20 years in the making,” said Betti. “Our contribution was making sure Hasse Ryt-Way Arena was sustainably designed for growing programs and a resilient future. The new LEED Silver facility doesn’t just lower operational costs, the building itself fosters growth, already designed for the addition of a second ice sheet to meet future demand in both Northfield and Dundas.”
