COURTESY OF WBRC
Hockey is a game of connection—from youth players to college athletes, first-time attendees to lifelong fans. For WBRC’s design team, connection took on a different meaning: integrating two existing buildings of different scale, age, and architectural character into a cohesive, high-performance home for the University of Maine’s NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Hockey programs.
“At the architectural heart of the project was a complex structural engineering challenge,” said Kristian Kowal, WBRC Principal, Architect, and Project Manager. “The design required visually unifying a 1970s-era arena with a 2006 athletic performance facility while independently preserving Alfond Arena’s iconic silhouette and hyperbolic parabola roof.”
The expanded Shawn Walsh Hockey Center and Alfond Arena complex was created in collaboration with national sports design consultant Crawford Architects. A dramatic cantilevered connector unifies the two buildings, creating a continuous spatial experience while respecting each structure’s original intent and maintaining structural independence.
“Integrating the new structure seamlessly with the existing building proved to be one of the biggest challenges,” said Josh Crofton-Macdonald, PE, WBRC Structural Engineer, Senior Associate, and University of Maine graduate. “The iconic Alfond Arena roof is composed of a series of peaks and valleys intended to evoke Maine’s snowcapped mountains. We designed a new roof system that visually aligns with this geometry while remaining completely structurally isolated from the existing building.”
Interior environments incorporate Maine-centric materials and branding designed by 49 Degrees, with daylight access, campus views, and warm finishes enhancing wellbeing and reinforcing a strong sense of place. Updated sports medicine resources and contemporary training spaces directly support recruitment, recovery, and competitive performance. The Shawn Walsh Center expansion introduced dedicated team lounges, film rooms, coaches’ offices, and upgraded operational support zones.
Improvements to Alfond Arena include ADA upgrades, new concessions, restroom enhancements, and a reimagined concourse and Hall of Champions—elevating the experience for student-athletes, coaches, and fans alike.
“The ‘origami’ roof geometry presented a high level of coordination,” said Miguel Betancourt, PE, WBRC’s lead structural engineer on the project. “In the end, the system was resolved very cleanly and works in strong alignment with the architectural intent.”
Adam Gillespie, PE, WBRC Project Representative, Structural Engineer, and University of Maine graduate, summarized the impact: “UMaine Hockey is the state’s only NCAA Division I program and a source of statewide pride. This renovation and expansion delivers a modern, resilient facility that matches its national reputation while honoring the legacy of Alfond Arena.”th another late push in the Class S tournament.
