Student Athletes at McKendree University, Southern Illinois IceHawks youth hockey organization and the general public now have a new recreation center to call home in O’Fallon, IL.  The McKendree Metro Rec Plex recently opened to the McKendree University men’s & women’s hockey teams, giving them a new facility to call “home ice”.  Soon the school’s swimming, diving, and water polo teams will likewise be calling the recreation center home in their Olympic and NCAA Championship caliber natatorium.  In total, the 160,000 square foot facility features two NHL-sized ice rinks, an aquatic center fit with a 10 lane championship swimming pool, a separate recreational pool, a contemporary fitness area including a half court gym, elevated walking track, free weights, cardio equipment, and many other amenities such as party room and conference facilities.  With more than two years of planning and design for the facility, the McKendree Metro Rec Plex will anchor the larger development on the 45 acre site known as The Four Points Center consisting of retail, hospitality, and professional office space.  

Guarantee Electrical Company was instrumental in value engineering and identifying cost saving opportunities on the original electrical design.  This allowed the developer to recognize substantial savings towards the overall cost of the project.  For its part, GECO was the turnkey electrical contractor on the project providing all site civil electrical work, including rough-in for Ameren’s underground utility distribution and site lighting throughout the development; the electrical construction contractor on the building responsible for installing new switchgear, both normal and emergency power, providing a combined 5000 amp 480 volt service to the building through two incoming services; and the systems electrical contractor providing all fire alarm and control wiring for the Cimco ice equipment.  The entire facility comprises energy efficient LED lighting and lighting controls throughout.    

This project is very important to not only O’Fallon, IL but the surrounding communities and region for several reasons.  In addition to providing a new home for both youth and collegiate organizations, the public ice rink fills a void left from the indefinite closing of a Fairview Heights Ice Rink in 2012 and also provides a new fitness center for the general public including personal trainers, daycare and much more.