IBPSA-USA Wisconsin Chapter: Curling and Ice Rink Design
The IBPSA-USA Wisconsin Chapter met in February with the Madison ASHRAE Young Engineers in ASHRAE (YEA) for a joint event on curling and ice rink design. Attendees convened at the Madison Curling Club, the roots of which date back to 1921 when professors from the University of Wisconsin and Madisonians made a sheet of ice under the stadium bleachers on the campus of the University of Wisconsin.
Attendees had an hour of curling instruction and practice, led by the Madison Curling Club staff. Graham Linn, an active IBPSA-USA member, enthusiastically expressed that “It’s extremely difficult to hold your body still while sliding on ice!”
Nonetheless, many attendees picked up the basic mechanics well and played a few games with each other on the ice.
Attendees then took a technical tour of the mechanical room, and enjoyed a technical presentation about ice rink design from Matthew Duffy (IES, Ltd., IBPSA-USA Board Director and Wisconsin Chapter member) and Shawn Olesen (Head Ice Technician of USA Curling). Overall, IBPSA-USA Wisconsin Chapter had a very successful and unique event, and are looking forward to more like this in the future!
If you would like to get more involved or have ideas for future events, please contact the IBPSA-USA Wisconsin Chapter.
A special thank you to Fred Betz, Graham Linn, and Amanda Wendling for sharing their photos of this event!
Interested in joining an IBPSA-USA chapter near you? Find a local chapter here or contact chapters@ibpsa.us for more information.
