The district's Skatium Ice Arena has been voted the winner of the 2013 Outstanding Facility & Park Award for large park district "renovations to an existing facility," by the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA).
The Arena was chosen for "exceptional and unique achievements in design and development." The Skatium scored the highest point total among entries submitted in its division, across the State of Illinois.
In April 2011, the Skatium closed its doors for a massive renovation. In September 2011, the newly-remodeled 34,000 square foot building re-opened to rave reviews from Skokie residents, community officials -- and now the state park district community.
Highlights of the renovation to the original 1973 structure included:
• A state-of-the-art lobby with natural light pouring through a glass enclosed wall structure, stretching 27 feet to the roof line. The new lobby is roomy, customer friendly, energy efficient and contemporary.
• Modern locker rooms for the main rink, and two new locker rooms adjacent to the studio rink, built over a portion of the practice area of the Weber Park Golf Course.
• A new café replaced an antiquated concession stand and a more convenient skate rental area was built for Skatium customers.
• Two large party rooms that now accommodate more private, revenue producing events.
• New plumbing and other infrastructure updates, requiring far less maintenance.
• A new computerized energy management system, regulating the temperature of the building’s many rooms, as well as the two ice rinks, making the building more energy efficient and the customer experience much more comfortable.
• ADA compliance, from the rinks to the parking lot and everything in between.
• The studio rink had its 8’ drop ceiling removed, replaced with a 27-foot ceiling, allowing better lighting in a more open environment.
• A locker room for hockey referees with modern amenities.
• A spacious new golf customer service area for the adjoining Weber Park Golf Course.
• A new customer service desk and modern offices that better serve the public.
• Renovated exercise and Pilates rooms for the adjacent Weber Leisure Center.
• A reconfigured, improved parking area with better access, 35 new spaces and handicapped spaces nearer to the building.