Tonight in Unpacks: Lake Placid received $500 million in renovations just in time to host the World University Winter Games, which open Friday at the site of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Games.
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Lake Placid’s $500 million facility overhaul focuses on modern amenities, wider audience
The 2023 World University Winter Games begin tomorrow in Lake Placid, N.Y., at a winter sports campus that’s seen significant renovations by the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA), which owns much of the Lake Placid Olympic complex, reports SBJ’s Bret McCormick.
Over the past six years, the state has invested over $500 million in the Olympic facilities, including the U.S. Olympic/Paralympic training center, upgrades of the Olympic Museum and a new administrative building where all ORDA corporate staff is now based (they previously worked in a temporary space). CannonDesign served as architects for much of the work.
The hockey arenas built in 1932 and 1980 for the Winter Olympics underwent significant renovations as part of this overhaul, including all-new seating, concessions and concourses, while the outdoor skating oval located on Lake Placid’s Main Street was completely renovated, too. This included $104 million for the Olympic Center and another $74 million on the Mt. Van Hovenberg complex, where the Nordic centers and sliding centers are located.
“From a longevity standpoint, not much has happened [at Lake Placid] since 1980,” said Colleen McKenna, who oversees CannonDesign’s national sports and recreation practice. “So, we need to make sure that we’re providing spaces that allow them to continue to grow and evolve and hold major events. That was a key theme throughout the project.”
Architect Jamie Graham led CannonDesign’s work, while McKenna helped ORDA with upfront and initial facility planning for the World University Games. Prior to the renovations, different design aesthetics were scattered across the multiple venues, stemming from 1932 and 1980, which created two divergent design aesthetics, one that’s traditional Adirondack and another that’s very '80s.
One of the project’s goals, McKenna said, was to address the range of people that visit Lake Placid, from pro athletes competing or training to kids just learning to ski or skate. The Mt. Van Hovenberg renovations best represent that diversity of visitor, with the new Mountain Path Lodge featuring dining, retail, conference facilities and a new climbing facility that will get more year-round use while still hosting major events like the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup in February.
