On December 17, JLG Architects was on-site in Tucson, AZ, to celebrate the topping-off and beam-signing of the Mosaic Quarter (MQ) Iceplex. This first phase, as part of JLG’s multi-sport campus design, anticipates a spring 2027 grand opening of the Iceplex and Field House, located at 2500 E. Ajo Way, Tucson.
ABOUT MQ ICEPLEX
Designed by JLG Architects, with Mosaic Quarter Development and general contractor Hensel Phelps, the MQ Iceplex is slated to be the epicenter of ice sports in Southern Arizona, delivering a three-sheet facility accommodating hockey, figure skating, community recreation, and adaptive sled hockey. Advised by the University of Arizona’s Department of Campus Recreation, MQ Iceplex will also host student intramural hockey, broomball, open skates, and special student events and activities.
The Arena Rink at the MQ Iceplex will be the exclusive home to the University of Arizona Wildcats Hockey. In this new facility, Arizona Hockey will further expand with three additional teams: ACHA Women’s Division I and Men’s Division II teams, joining the existing ACHA Men’s Division I team.
JLG Architects’ future-ready facility design fosters local programming expansion to meet Pima County’s community access and recreational athletics needs, including the ability to attract nationally marketed youth tournaments, e-sports, and concerts that boost economic development.
MQ Iceplex Provides:
- Two community rinks
- A Wildcat Hockey Arena
- 15 locker rooms
- Party room
- Pro shop
- Community skate rental
- The Quarter House restaurant
FUN FACTS
- MQ Field House and MQ Iceplex broke ground on November 20, 2024.
- The three-sheet Iceplex will span 175,000 SF.
- All three rinks are designed as NHL regulation-sized ice rinks.
- MQ’s athletic district is centered around a natural river wash that flows through the development, connected by pedestrian bridges.
- MQ Iceplex is designed to be operationally sustainable, including PV Solar and water reclamation, limiting use of the public water system for ice production.
- Both community rinks have 226 seats, all accessed from the concourse level.
- MQ’s cogeneration Central Utility Plant produces electricity on site with a natural gas-fed, electrical generation facility tied to a solar farm, producing chilled water for cooling use across campus.
DESERT ICE
Unlike the cold, moisture-laden conditions of northern climates, Arizona ice sheets require aggressive management of heat and moisture intrusion, along with the more typical needs of high-performance building envelopes, heavy insulation, thermal breaks, advanced dehumidification, and refrigeration systems sized to handle extreme cooling loads. According to JLG’s Adam Davidson, Principal Architect, AIA, LEED AP, desert arenas drive different mechanical sizing, envelope performance targets, and operational energy strategies.
“JLG understands the unique complexities of ice arena design, integrating advanced envelope strategies, right-sized refrigeration systems, precise humidity control, and resilient operational planning tailored to each region’s demands — whether the Midwest or Southwest,” explained Davidson. “Deep technical expertise is just as important as a commitment to user comfort, safety, and long-term efficiency. A well-designed arena performs reliably, reduces lifecycle costs, and elevates the experience for athletes, operators, and spectators alike.”
DESIGN DETAILS
According to JLG’s Ted Wright, Senior Project Designer, AIA, LEED AP, the design of the MQ Iceplex is influenced by the desert, both in form and function, with metal and masonry pulling color from the landscape. Key architectural and design features include:
- Painted façade murals inspired by Tucson’s historic barrios
- Canopies for shading at entries and outdoor gathering locations
- Faceted, layered facades that echo the profiles of distant mountain ranges
- Interior spaces that foster high-level athletic performance, enhanced fan experience, social gathering nodes, and multi-use opportunities
HOSPITALITY
JLG’s Miranda Duetz, Associate Project Manager, is leading the design of Mosaic Quarter’s hospitality projects, including an Iceplex restaurant, The Quarter House, and the MQ Field House Café. Near the Iceplex, the outdoor event plaza will be home to a stage, memorial garden, the Cantina, a prefab shipping container bar with a rooftop patio, and the Smokehouse, an outdoor BBQ station.
Phase 2 of Mosaic Quarter’s athletic campus will focus on completion of the MQ Sportsplex and MQ Pavilion, which will serve the community of Pima County and Tucson, Arizona. Altogether, these facilities are anticipated to become the centerpiece of Mosaic Quarter’s 100-acre sports and entertainment development.
