East Brunswick will spend $30 million to build ice arena

EAST BRUNSWICK - The Township Council has awarded two contracts totaling $30 million to build a municipal ice arena.

But Mayor Brad Cohen said the bids came in less than what the Township Council approved a bond for.

Last summer, the Township Council approved a $40.3 million bond to fund the project at the old Wonder Bread site at 110 Tices Lane. The total project cost is approximately $53 million, but that figure is reduced by $10 million for site improvements and the cost of the land (compliments of Garden Homes Development, the developer of Legacy Place ) and another $3 million received from a state grant .

A groundbreaking is expected in the fall.

The Township Council unanimously approved on Monday a contract to build the 83,900-square-foot arena to Terminal Construction Corp., of Wood-Ridge, in an amount not to exceed $26,535,000.

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Eight bids were received that ranged from $26,535,000 to $29,975,000.

According to its website, Terminal Construction Corp. has a diverse portfolio of work in New Jersey and the New York Metropolitan area, including Perth Amboy High School, Piscataway Community Center and Rutgers Stadium, now known as SHI Stadium.

The Township Council awarded a contract not to exceed $3,950,000 to Ice Builders Inc., of Liverpool, N.Y., for the two indoor ice rinks which includes refrigeration, mechanical systems, concrete slabs beneath the ice and required features.

According to its website , Ice Builders Inc. has more than a century of combined experience and is one of the most experienced ice rink engineering, construction and renovation companies worldwide.

Cohen also said it was an "extraordinary long" process to award the contracts because the government requirements for public bidding of a large project are extensive.

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In January, the Township Council approved a resolution authorizing a $58,355 contract to Wisconsin-based B32° Engineering Group for the design of ice-related systems at the arena, which will feature two NHL-sized rinks.

Design plans for the facility were created by DMR Architects. Design of the ice rink systems will be based on the conceptual design produced by MacLaughlin Management.

Email: sloyer@gannettnj.com

Susan Loyer covers Middlesex County and more for MyCentralJersey.com. To get unlimited access to her work, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: East Brunswick will spend $30 million to build ice arena