Rebuilding Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark in Billings

In June 2010, a tornado touched down in Billings causing millions of dollars in damages to the Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark. Of the five proposals submitted, the county selected the team of High Tech BNB as general contractor to rebuild the damaged arena.

Working alongside CTA Architects, selected to redesign the arena, the first phase of construction began in September with the roof repair. After more than two dozen rain delays, it was critical to get the facility sealed and winterized to protect from further rain and inclement weather.

High Tech and its subcontractors worked 24-hour shifts to remove damaged roof deck, ductwork and conduit, while repairing structural elements and installing new decking. “Our team of 35 worked round-the-clock in two shifts to ensure the roofing was completed as quickly as possible,” said Scott Chartier, executive vice president, High Tech Construction. “We rely heavily on the talent and experience of our crews, subcontractors and suppliers in order to overcome the time and weather challenges and they really came through on this project.”

The new roof assembly consists of a heavy-gauge metal deck covered by a gypsum-based fiberglass board called DensDeck; a vapor barrier which seals the arena from moisture. Once the arena was “in the dry”, two layers of insulation were installed, followed by an additional layer of DensDeck. The exterior layer of the roof was fastened using induction welding to eliminate nails and screws from penetrating the final membrane.

Improving the acoustics of the arena is also a priority for the project. The underside of the roof will be sprayed with a special acoustic foam, new acoustic panels will be hung on the walls and a special hanging ceiling, called a bass trap, is planned along the east and west sidewalls to capture low frequency and reduce echo during events.

The remainder of the work has been divided into discrete bid packages, which are designed to facilitate the acquisition of long lead-time items, provide an opportunity for local trades to participate in the project and to keep the project moving on schedule. According to Keith Rupert, CEO of CTA Architects, the design incorporates off-the-shelf components where possible to accommodate the accelerated deadlines.

The project is a balance of two objectives: getting the arena’s basic functionality in order to resume revenue contributions to the community and positioning the facility to be regionally competitive with other arenas. With that in mind, Keith says the building will be designed with a more modern look, updating its color palette as well as the technology and overall functionality of the arena.

The exterior of the arena, designed by Populous Architects, is meant to blend the arena with the other buildings within MetraPark. It will feature a new color scheme and the sloping Box Office/Administration roof will be replaced with vertical glass panels. This will give the MetraPark staff another 3,000 square feet of functional space.

Additional updates to the arena will include: upgrading stage rigging to accommodate larger events, and the installation of a new, technologically advanced sound system. To address safety and comfort requirements, the project also calls for the addition of a fire sprinkler system and an infrared heating system to the concourse, as well as increased restroom capacity throughout.

Teams are working hard to have the arena available as early in 2011 as possible, in order to book high impact events that drive revenue for the local businesses and communities. “We’ve asked High Tech to jump through hoops and they’ve worked hard to provide us with well thought-out options to help us reach our goals” said Sandra Hawke, marketing director for MetraPark. “High Tech’s willingness to work on a component approach, focusing first on items on the critical path list, has contributed to the efficiency of the project and will enable us to enhance the arena over time.”

High Tech is excited about the opportunity to work alongside so many exceptional local businesses in the reconstruction of the 232,000 square foot arena. The facility, when complete, will be a tribute to the partnership and contribution of the entire community.