FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BOSTON SPORTS INSTITUTE NAMED THE OFFICIAL TRAINING HOME OF BOSTON’S PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S HOCKEY LEAGUE (PWHL) TEAM

WELLESLEY, MA (November 13, 2023) – The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) has announced that its Boston franchise will call Boston Sports Institute its official home for on- and off-ice training throughout the season. PWHL Boston opens training camp this week, with the inaugural season to begin in January.

“We are thrilled to announce our partnership with the Boston Sports Institute as our practice facility,” said Danielle Marmer, PWHL Boston General Manager. “The facility boasts two ice sheets, a rehabilitation center, and a state-of-the-art strength training facility, creating a truly professional experience for our athletes. These resources will not only promote team success but allow our players to commit to their individual growth and development. The Boston Sports Institute has also played a crucial role in establishing a player lounge, office space, and locker room enhancements. These additions will undoubtedly contribute to making our PWHL Boston family feel right at home, and we are sincerely grateful for their support.”

The PWHL officially launched in August with the introduction of six original teams and the foundation to assemble rosters featuring the best women’s hockey players in the world. Among the stars suiting up for Boston are U.S. National Women’s Team members Hilary Knight, Megan Keller, Aerin Frankel, and the team’s third overall draft pick Alina Müller.

“Pairing PWHL Boston with the Boston Sports Institute Wellesley connects the best in class of women’s professional hockey with the premier family recreation and entertainment facility in Massachusetts,” said Brian DeVellis, President of EDGE Sports Global LLC, the programming and operational manager of BSI. “At BSI Wellesley, PWHL Boston will enjoy not only an exceptional facility with unparalleled amenities, but through its partner facilities and programs, will have access to some of the premier youth players in New England to showcase their skills and love of the game to the next generation of players.”

The Boston Sports Institute, a Steward Family Facility, is a multi-use recreation center conveniently located at 900 Worcester Street, Wellesley (Route 9). The facility features two NHL regulation ice surfaces (one fully sled hockey compatible), indoor turf/court field house, competition swimming pool, warm up pool, Boston Sports Performance Center (physical therapy / strength & conditioning), track, and much more.

Fans can stay connected to the PWHL, register for email updates, and secure their spot in line for buying tickets by placing a deposit at thepwhl.com, and follow @thepwhlofficial and @pwhl_boston on all social media platforms.

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Media Contact:
Paul Krotz
PWHL Director of Communications
647-505-8010
paul.krotz@thepwhl.com

Metal buildings are engineered systems that offer construction flexibility, allow for large clear spans and provide diverse building configurations to accommodate sports facilities of varied shapes and sizes. A case in point is the Boston Sports Institute (BSI), a 130,000 square foot multipurpose recreational and entertainment facility located in Wellesley, Mass.

“Special attention had to be given to all sealing details as the building has two very extreme and different environments—ice arenas on one side and pools on the other,” said Tony Barnes, President, Barnes Buildings, the steel contractor for the project.

Brian DeVellis, President of ESG Associates Inc. dba Edge Sports Group which developed the project, noted that metal building technology has evolved over the past 15 years to include insulated panel and roof systems. “It’s come such a long way, and this has been phenomenal for us,” he said.

Embracing Aesthetics

The BSI project incorporated 58,000 square feet of insulated metal panels (IMPs) from Metallic Building Systems in a variety of orientations, colors and designs. The horizontal and vertical strips of gray, white and sandstone panels are aesthetically pleasing and, most importantly, provide an all-in-one, built-in vapor and air barrier plus insulation system.

IMP thermal properties are especially important in maintaining a chilly 55°F inside the facility’s two NHL ice rinks and warm 82°F in the pool area.

Up On the Roof

To heat and cool the facility, three dozen HVAC units were installed on the roof. However, for the rooftop in the pool area, all equipment-supported steel and roof curbs had to be precisely installed for the large units. With no tolerance for error, Barnes said coordination with the HVAC manufacturer and subcontractors were essential to ensure curbs were properly located.

BSI has solar panels on its roof, and the facility has a heat exchange system between rinks and pools. Compressors used to create ice also generate heat, which is then pumped to the pools to warm them.

“Routing eight-inch gas lines and heat exchange pipes was a lot easier with a clear span building. You can hang these instead of having to break through walls,” DeVellis said. “Maintenance and improvements for these systems are easier to complete because they are all open and easy to access.”

In addition, he cited construction durability and ease of design as other benefits of using a metal building system.

“These institutional buildings have to be strong. You have a million kids running through them with hockey sticks and basketballs. We don’t have mahogany-and-gold-plated chair rails,” he said. “These buildings are metal and concrete and durable as hell.”

A Public-Private Venture

DeVellis explained that the recreation center began as a private-public partnership between Edge Sports Group; which constructed, manages and owns BSI; and the town of Wellesley, Mass. Wellesley owns the land, and local schools and community sports groups are given priority scheduling when using the facility.

Typically, in projects like BSI, there is a ground-lease agreement for at least 50 years. For that term, the municipality has locked-in fees and set times of usage.

Total project cost of BSI, including site development, building design and construction, was $26.3 million. It took 18 months from construction start to occupancy.  Dacon Corporation in Natick designed and built the facility implementing sustainable principles throughout to minimize environmental impact and optimize operational costs.

DeVellis explained that actual construction of the building took less time than this, but a gas-line explosion in another part of Massachusetts created a delay because the state temporarily halted all gas tie-ins. ESG also experienced delays in installing traffic signalization through the winter season. Without these delays, he said it would have taken about 10 months from ground-breaking to occupancy.

BSI was designed to be useful for all athletes with the design of a wheelchair-accessible pool and deck and a sled-hockey-compatible indoor ice rink.

“Even though making buildings accessible has been required since the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, sports facilities have always been the outlier. Hockey rinks, for example, haven’t been a model of accessibility,” DeVellis said. “We are one of the only New England hockey facilities that has a fully accessible sled-hockey rink where athletes can actually skate off the ice and into the benches,” he said. “The benches get removed and there is plexiglass that people can see through. So, it’s a great experience for players and spectators. The pools need to have lifts to be accessible according to code, but this is the most accessible facility that we’ve done–and each one we build gets a little bit better than the last.”

Building a Sports Ecosystem

DeVellis uses the term “sports ecosystem” in describing BSI because the venue has sports, leisure and support services, such as tutoring, healthy food services, strength and conditioning and shops that allow users to experience a variety of services. “Often, athletes go somewhere else for physical therapy and injury recovery,” he adds. “We believe that we can do more for injury prevention by having sports medicine on site.” He adds that having strength and conditioning services housed on site is beneficial in terms of training athletes.

“Injury prevention includes things like concussion awareness, yoga and understanding the value of good nutrition and sleep. There is much more emphasis on injury prevention versus treatment,” he said. “So, the sports ecosystem is everything surrounding an athlete.”

DeVellis adds: “Everybody, at some point, is either an athlete, loves an athlete or is a spectator so the demand for these types of facilities is high.”

Project Details:
Building: Boston Sports Institute
Location: Wellesley, Massachusetts
Size: 130,000 square feet
Metal Structure: Metallic Building Systems (primary and secondary steel framing, roof)
Metal Panel Manufacturer: Metl-Span LLC, (insulated metal building panels)
Trusses: Rigid Frames by Metallic Building Company
Roof: Doublelok 24 Ga. Standing Seam by Metallic Building Company
Fasteners: Metallic Building Company
Doors & Windows: GC
Curbs: LM Curbs
Architecture, Architectural Engineering & General Contracting: Dacon Corporation,  PDA Associates, Inc.
Structural Engineering: DeSimone Consulting Engineers
HVAC Engineering: Environmental Systems, Inc.
Electrical Engineering: Rivers Electrical Corporation
Metal Building Engineering and Construction: BARNES buildings & management group, inc.
Specialty Pool Engineering and Installation: Weston & Sampson, Myrtha Pools
Fire Protection Engineering: Platinum Fire Protection Services LLC
Plumbing Engineering: GCI General Contractors
Acoustical Engineering: Cavanaugh Tocci Associates, Inc.
Refrigeration: Independent Mechanical Contractors, Inc.
Ecological Science: BSC Group
Energy Modeling: Demand Management Institute

November 18th, 2022 | Rural Builder Magazine
Source: https://ruralbuildermagazine.com/metal-building-system-accommodates-different-environments-in-boston-sports-institute/

Sports and fitness are two related lifestyle industries that focus on leisure options for people of all ages, interests and incomes. They represent many diverse options.

SPORTS & FITNESS INCLUDE:
Gyms and physical fitness centers
Yoga studios
Martial arts training
Dance studios
Natatoriums
Sports courts (volleyball, racquetball,
basketball, squash, etc.)
Indoor skydiving
Bowling
Hockey
Soccer
Football
Neighborhood activity centers

Metal building systems accommodate these types of businesses very well for a variety of reasons.

HERE ARE THE TOP 10…

1. They meet the criteria of most sports and fitness facility developers. Metal buildings provide business developers with a solution that is quick to construct, long-lasting and low-maintenance. That means lower long-term costs, faster construction that brings the building into service more quickly than other building methods, and minimal facility maintenance requirements over the entire life of the structure.
2. They deliver a versatile, clear span structure. This means there are no required interior columns to impede the reconfiguration of spaces to accommodate changes in sports/fitness equipment, programs, and consumer expectations.
3. They are durable. Metal buildings stand strong against extreme weather conditions and catastrophic disasters. They are also exceptionally fire-resistant. Metal roofing, one element of a metal building, has been shown to withstand winds of 140 mph. In seismic zones, low-weight flexible frame options offer higher resistance to tectonic forces.
4. They are engineered to provide an exact fit for a specific developer’s program. The building layout is defined, the building components are manufactured, then all materials are delivered to the construction site as a complete package—assuring single-source responsibility and prompt product delivery. The standardization inherent in systems-based buildings makes design, manufacturing, delivery and building erection possible in as little as two-thirds the normal time for conventional structures.
5. They support process-driven development. A metal building is ideal for sophisticated developers because its design-build model is based on process and critical path, increasing efficiency in both design and construction. Interface with computer-aided design, along with the ability to clad buildings in brick, precast concrete, stone, wood, architectural metal or glass allows great flexibility in design aesthetics.
6. They offer competitive advantages. Advancements in the fabrication of structural elements provide a faster return on investment for a building owner. Since all elements are factory-fabricated, they are pre-cut and pre-punched under precise factory conditions. As a result, quality is increased while waste is decreased. Building erection time and costs are highly predictable since all parts are manufactured and shipped to the site—typically within six to eight weeks from the time an order is submitted. These short build-out times translate to earlier occupancy and a quicker start of business.
7. They expand easily. When a developer achieves success in a sports or fitness location, there is logically a need to expand. With metal building systems, that potential is already built into the products. Expansion typically involves the simple removal of an end or side wall, erection of additional structural frames, and matching the existing wall androof coverings to the addition. This flexibility naturally cuts costs and reduces the time and inconvenience typically required to expand or add to an existing structure.
8. They exhibit respect for the environment. Metal buildings are composed of steel and are 100% recyclable. Nearly every metal building component incorporates recycled steel. An independent study also reveals that, for the types of projects where metal buildings are most economical, they typically perform better in life-cycle analyses and have the least material impact on the environment.
9. They provide design criteria to stifle noise. Sports and fitness facility developers are typically concerned about noise levels generated by crowds, cheering and team-spirited revelry. With metal buildings, the proper use of thermal insulation helps prevent the transmission of exterior sound, while quieting the noise within a building by absorbing reverberating sound.
10. They allow for design flexibility. When a developer wants to promote a consistent brand that makes a franchise memorable, they will want to use textures, colors and design elements that represent that overall brand. Metal buildings provide versatility to meet each of the branding objectives through the use of cladding products, alternative coatings, specialized steel elements and unique structural formations.

Architects and constructors who specialize in metal building design-build strategies attest to the value, creativity, reliability and speed of delivery that is found in this form of construction. About half of all one- and two-story commercial buildings in America are created with metal building systems engineering. To speak with an accredited design-build architect or contractor in your area, contact mbma@mbma.com.

CASE STUDIES IN BUILDING EXCELLENCE FOR SPORTS & FITNESS

BOSTON SPORTS INSTITUTE

Boston Sports Institute in Wellesley, Massachuetts, is a four building complex offering nearly 102,000 square feet, which provides space for ice rinks, a pool house and a field house with mezzanines for viewing stands and a running track. Other facility features include locker rooms, a warm pool, offices and mechanical rooms. The design incorporates a multi-span gable, symmetrical building and a multi-span gable, un-symmetrical building with an attached single-slope building.

Unique project challenges were addressed throughout the design and construction process. Each required careful coordination among key constituents: the architect, PDA Inc., the general contractor, Dacon Corporation, and the erector, BARNES buildings & management group inc.

One difficulty was the erection of steel over the pool excavation using a 110-ton crane and aerial equipment inside the pool excavation. The challenge was exacerbated by property constraints that allowed only minimal site access on three sides of the building. Another challenge was the installation of the complex iron package, which included a monumental stairway to the mezzanine level, six sets of steel pan stairs, guardrails at the running track and guardrails with wire mesh at all viewing stands, a ships ladder to the roof hatch, a grated tread stair for the pool mechanical room, an elevator pit ladder, a hoist beam, masonry lintels and a galvanized cooling tower.

For mixed-use sports facilities such as this, it is necessary to design the buildings to address high energy demand, temperature fluctuations and humidity-controlled environments related to ice rinks, natatoriums, turf fields and public areas. Operating costs were addressed and reduced by taking extracted thermal energy to keep the rinks frozen and reclaiming it to heat the pools via loop systems with heat exchangers and circulation pumps. Additional energy efficiencies were achieved by specifying LED lighting, high-efficiency water heaters and an ammonia refrigeration system. The 100,000-square-foot roof area and electrical infrastructure are designed to accommodate a 900kW photovoltaic array to reduce electrical grid demand and carbon emissions.

The high interior relative-humidity levels of the natatoriums (60%) and ice rinks (48%) present an increased risk for condensation across the boundaries of adjacent spaces, adding a level of complexity to interior wall construction. To guard against corrosion, all exposed metal parts are stainless steel with wall and ceiling surfaces finished with epoxy. Thermal insulation, window insulation and vapor barriers help to manage the humidity hurdles. One problem was averted when the design team gave careful consideration to minimizing glare in the competition pool, a potential safety hazard and hindrance to competitive swimming. Anticipating the solar geometry, windows were strategically positioned high on the north side, limiting direct sunlight on the water’s surface to only a few hours per year.

With a movable bulkhead, chair lift and drop-in stair, the competition pool can be reconfigured for multiple uses, such as water polo, competitive diving and recreational swimming. Large-view windows emphasize transparency between sports areas, contributing to an awareness of activity throughout the facility and providing spectator viewing.

On the second level, above the soccer/lacrosse turf field, is a two-lane track for jogging and rehabilitative walking.

Critical design features of structure, materials, light and color contributed to project success.

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NHL Legend, Phil Esposito, founder of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and EDGE Sports Group, sports ecosystem specialists, join the Olympus Sports Team

Clermont, Fla. (Aug. 2, 2022) – Olympus, the innovative master-planned community and lifestyle destination encompassing 250 acres in central Florida, is revving up for a 2023 groundbreaking on its dynamic Sports Campus. The campus, uniquely programmed to include a cutting-edge Performance institute, impressive range of multi-sport training and competition venues and  a year-round schedule of amateur, collegiate and elite events, will be bolstered by new and exciting partnerships with NHL Ice Hockey Hall of Famer and founder of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Phil Esposito, and Boston-based EDGE Sports Group.

Esposito, one of the greatest ice hockey players and one of the most influential ice hockey executives of all time, is now the founding member of the Ice Center at Olympus. Estimated to cost $20 million, the Ice Center at Olympus will feature two NHL regulation ice surfaces (including one fully sled-hockey-compatible surface) for ice hockey and figure skating training and competition.

 “Olympus is a truly visionary community and incredible sports destination,” said Esposito. “I’m so proud to be a part of the Olympus Ice Center, which is not only going to energize the growth and popularity of ice hockey in Florida, but also globally.”

Esposito, whose likeness is immortalized on a statue at Tampa Bay’s Amelie Arena, continued, “The Ice Center at Olympus is the perfect platform for teams like the Lightning to deliver exceptional development programs to Central Florida. It’s also the perfect venue for high school, collegiate and professional team training and international competition.”

“From the moment we began planning the Ice Center at Olympus, I knew Phil was the right partner,” said Michael Carroll, CEO of Olympus. “He brings an incredible passion to the Center’s development and programming. I value his friendship, leadership and the important role he plays as a global ambassador for the sport of ice hockey.”

It was also announced today that Olympus has developed a strategic partnership with Boston-based EDGE Sports Group, the premier athletic ecosystem specialists, to facilitate development, design and management of the 60-acre Sports Campus at Olympus.

“EDGE is a powerful addition to the Olympus team, bringing over 30 years of experience in delivering on all aspects of sports venue design, development and management,” said Carroll.

Located at the highest elevation on the Olympus property, overlooking the internal lake with dramatic views of Central Florida, the Sports Campus will feature traditional and emerging sports across indoor and outdoor training and competition venues; a year-round schedule of amateur, collegiate and elite events with onsite hospitality and entertainment; and an all-encompassing Performance Institute for top athletes from around the globe.

“We are honored to join forces with Olympus and its team to deliver a self-sustaining, thriving and globally renowned sports hub and destination in Central Florida,” said Brian DeVellis, founder and president of EDGE Sports Group. “Our job doesn’t end when the last brick is laid. We ensure that the Sports Campus at Olympus remains a community cornerstone for decades to come.”

The crown jewel of the sports campus will be a 5,800-seat multi-purpose arena ready to host major sporting and entertainment events. The sports campus will also feature an international soccer center comprised of a 3,500-seat soccer stadium and multiple soccer pitches; the Ice Center; a multi-sport fieldhouse for volleyball, basketball, gymnastics and more; a beach volleyball pavilion; a 4.5-mile trail system for triathlon and other special events; and the largest authentic red-clay tennis court center in the U.S. designed to host large-scale events on par with major international tennis competitions.

“We’re known as the ‘Choice of Champions’ not just because so many elite and Olympic athletes live and train here, but because we carry that way of thinking into our community,” Clermont Mayor Tim Murry said. “Olympus continues to introduce and develop quality and relative partnerships that will allow these athletes even more training and competition opportunities, and that will benefit everyone involved. We are very excited about what is coming soon to Wellness Way!”

The cutting-edge Olympus Performance Institute will help the world’s greatest athletes train, improve, refine and recover with elite-level strength and conditioning, athletic training, nutrition and athletic dining services, and more. Amenities include hydrotherapy, sauna, cold and hot tubs, cryotherapy, and a red-light therapy pod. Additionally, the institute will house an athlete lounge and content creation center giving athletes the opportunity to stay on top of every aspect of their game.

Athletes, fans and guests alike will enjoy the benefits of onsite hospitality at one of four hotels across the Olympus master plan, including a highly-amenitized sports resort and conference center.

Another Olympus partner, Broadcast Service Group, will bring full-service broadcast and video production services to the Sports Campus, ensuring that venues are always broadcast-ready. Broadcast Service Group’s portfolio of clients includes ESPN, NBC Sports, Telemundo, Fox Sports, MLS, Orlando City, US Open Tennis and more.

Already making a significant impact in Central Florida, Olympus is projected to bring more than 2,800 jobs and have an economic impact of more than $1.5 billion at buildout.

To follow the development of Olympus, for more information or to inquire about opportunities, visit olympusorlando.com.

About Olympus

Olympus is designed as a platform for business innovation and economic growth –– a smart, connected wellness community and global sports and entertainment destination. Olympus features a synergistic array of development opportunities in healthcare, wellness, fitness, sports training and competition, hospitality, and residential. These zones of excellence are centered in and around a vibrant Town Center, serving as the heart of the Wellness Way growth area in Greater Orlando. The Olympus development team has created proprietary market drivers –– an innovative master plan, high-value entitlements, world-class partners, a sports campus, and a perfect location. These drivers build business and real estate development within the 243-acre master planned community and destination, which is projected to drive 2,800 direct, onsite jobs and over $1.5 billion in economic value at buildout. For more information visit olympusorlando.com.

Media Contact

Tara Burgess

tara@olympusorlando.com