3779 Ely Place, SE
Thanks to Andrew for passing on:
“The opening of the new Fort Dupont Ice Arena has been substantially delayed. This is a huge blow to families in Wards 7 and 8.
Important Announcement Regarding Fort Dupont Ice Arena
The Board of Directors of the Friends of Fort Dupont Ice Arena (FFD) today released the following statement in announcing the delayed opening of the new rink in southeast Washington, DC.
“We are dismayed by recent developments that prevent us from taking possession of the new ice skating rink in Ward 7, due to foreseeable and preventable design flaws, including the failure to install an FFD recommended dehumidification system, that have resulted in a facility that is neither a healthy nor safe environment, nor fully operational, leaving the building uninsurable at this time.
“Over 25,000 children, primarily from Wards 5, 7, and 8, have had transformative experiences through Fort Dupont Ice Arena’s signature Kids on Ice® (KOI) programs for nearly 30 years. The new rink was intended to continue and expand that commitment to kids, their families and the other multiple users of the rink, by replacing the well-worn but beloved Fort Dupont Ice Arena on the same footprint. All of our patrons, as well as DC taxpayers, deserve a prompt resolution of the construction problems.
“We appreciate the concern Mayor Muriel Bowser, DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, and Ward 7 Councilmember Wendell Felder have shown upon learning of the building’s design flaws. We urge them to continue playing a leadership role as we work collectively to address the barriers to opening and ensure that the contractor, SMOOT Construction, takes responsibility for correcting the structural deficiencies, in partnership with our board’s many experts in building and operating community rinks, as well as community stakeholders.
“We are ready to promote and begin the full range of KOI® classes: Learn To Skate, ice hockey, speed skating, figure skating, and synchronized skating, all under the development and direction of highly qualified alumni of our own programs. We are excited to welcome back students from all DC elementary schools as part of our signature Schools Skate for Fitness curriculum. Several hockey teams, including the Fort Dupont Cannons (the oldest minority hockey program in the country), are ready to resume their practices and games at the new facility, helping us to offer free and subsidized skating and related educational opportunities for all area kids — regardless of economic circumstances — year-round.
“We also urge the District to allocate any remaining project funds for enhancements that will benefit DC kids and other patrons, such as computers for the community rooms, where successful cross-school mentoring programs will take place, and a security system. The $40 million price for the new rink is multiple times the normal cost of comparable facilities. We raised these cost concerns early and often, to no avail. If not resolved promptly and correctly, these avoidable design deficits will squander the District’s substantial taxpayer investment in a new facility, which is not what the City’s residents deserve.
“The clock is ticking for FDIA skaters and clients. As school begins, families are scheduling weekend activities; neighborhood kids view ‘the Fort’ as a safe space; hockey season is upon us. For the sake of everyone we serve, we urge immediate action by District officials and the contractor, in consultation with our board members, to make this situation right.”
Background:
The new Fort Dupont Ice Arena, located on Ely Place in Southeast Washington, DC, is not currently insurable due to the absence of a dehumidification system in the HVAC design. FFDIA board members warned the contractor, SMOOT Construction, and the Department of General Services about this design flaw early in the project. This deficiency, coupled with the mechanical failure of a rooftop air conditioning compressor, has caused water condensation and untenable heat problems throughout the building. Consequences of these challenges now include damaged ceiling tiles, pooling water on the floor, and ceiling tiles trapping excessive heat. These unacceptable problems have continued for weeks, creating a perfect environment for mold.
The immediate, but temporary, fix is to install multiple portable dehumidifiers throughout the facility. The permeant solution is to install the dehumidification system FFD initially recommended. There’s no reason for any delay in immediately bringing the rink into safe and insurable condition.
While failure to install a dehumidification system is the most serious and pressing issue preventing occupancy of the facility, it is not the only problem with the building. Other significant construction and functional deficiencies FFDIA board members have flagged from the start of the project include:
Lack of hot water and electricity for the Zamboni (ice re-surfacer): These features are crucial for making and maintaining a safe and durable ice sheet. While DGS is taking steps to rectify this situation, this critical design flaw has contributed to pushing back the rink opening date by at least a month. This oversight is a core design flaw; the remedy should be implemented at the contractor’s expense, not FDIA’s.
No furniture: The budgeted furniture for common areas and offices isn’t currently scheduled to arrive for an additional three (3) months. Despite repeated promises otherwise — and numerous requests for sign-off on the FF & E package — there literally is no place for KOI® participants and other patrons to lace-up their skates and to engage in educational activities (such as tutoring and homework assistance) that we offer, or for FDIA staff to sit and work.
Locker rooms without plumbing: Despite pleas from the FFD early in the project, the contractor’s design lacked plumbing in locker rooms used primarily by hockey teams. This could force players to walk down a public hallway to the showers in the communal bathrooms while other children are in the building for activities. This issue was raised early in the design process, and new plans were drawn and approved. However, only upon a site tour after the framing began did it become clear that the District returned to the older plan that did not provide for bathrooms in the locker rooms — a staple feature of community rinks. The Board’s pleas for design changes before installation of walls and fixtures were rebuffed. The contractor should identify a way to facilitate a structural modification at its own expense.”