To create a state-of-the art ice skating facility in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, The Palm Beach North Athletic Foundation, Inc. (PBNAF) called on JLG Architects. Anticipating a spring 2027 completion, new construction of the 123,245 SF facility will provide a multi-use venue for youth and adult hockey programs, figure skating, and tournaments. The IcePlex’s entrance elevation, situated to the north, will allow ample glazing for indoor/outdoor connections and daylit rinks while protecting from solar heat gain and glare. The façade’s sawtooth design will mimic the motion of Florida waves along sandy beaches, with segmented, angled walls and canopies for sun protection and scale amid the palm trees. Here, durable and colorful graphic panels will be woven into the façade for visual energy, inspired by shoreline wave patterns. Inside, the facility will utilize energy recovery in mechanical and refrigeration systems, providing heat for domestic water reuse. The building is solar panel ready, with roofing and electrical infrastructure in place for a future addition. While JLG provided design for base program needs, including two rinks, team rooms, dryland training, and meeting/video rooms, the PBNAF is also working to include leased spaces for a full-service restaurant and sports bar, retail store, a Gretzky Hockey School space, and a dedicated medical space sponsored by the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS)to enhance the overall experience. Once complete, the IcePlex will become a world-class, indoor ice skating facility for people of all ages and abilities in the community.
