No longer just a blueprint, the Lee & Penny Anderson Arena at the University of St. Thomas is coming into view. The multiuse facility on the university’s south campus will host the Tommie ice hockey and basketball programs, as well as play host to special campus events like commencement ceremonies and career fairs.
Construction teams have hit a significant milestone in the past month, completing the installation of the main arena’s steel trusses, essentially giving the arena its roof and enclosing much of the space just in time for winter. In addition to the roughly 5,000-seat arena, walls are also going up for a second ice rink, two additional basketball courts, sports and nutrition performance areas, locker rooms and coaching offices.
St. Thomas Director of Photography and Video Mark Brown recently visited the site and documented the progress on the rising campus landmark.
Steel trusses above the main arena have been installed. The bowl features seating for the primary rink and basketball court.Crews work on seating areas for the multiuse arena which will be able to transition quickly from ice rink to basketball court to auditorium.Work continues on the secondary hockey rink, which will also have seating for fans.Crews work to finish installing steelwork on the southern end of the arena.Crews work on the mezzanine level of the main arena concourse.Crews work on the main seating area for the Lee & Penny Anderson Arena.Interior walls are going up for future office spaces.The western facade of the arena under construction.The men's and women's basketball teams will each have their own practice courts.The main arena steel trusses have been installed above the primary hockey rink and basketball court.Crews work on the main arena area for hockey and basketball.Interior fire protection and drywall framing is underway for the concourse level of the main arena.Once complete, Lee & Penny Anderson Arena will be one of the most energy efficient athletic arenas in the nation. St. Thomas is pursing LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
Construction got underway on the multiuse arena earlier in 2024. The university is targeting an opening date in the 2025-26 athletics season.
