LAKE PLACID — The Olympic Regional Development Authority has picked a design for its new Conference Center at Lake Placid.

The project was scaled back last year after the initial low bids for the $20 million new glass cube and stone version, planned three years ago, came in 30 percent over budget.

Arched windows and overhanging roofs with stone siding from local quarries are features of the new look for the conference space, which is connected to the 1932 and 1980 Olympic Centers.

DEMOLITION SOON
"We're delivering the project in phases," said Bob Hammond, chief engineering manager at ORDA.

Demolition of the current Convention Center will begin in a few weeks, creating between five and 50 jobs through the end of construction season.

ORDA has awarded an exterior demolition contract to Jackson Demolition, out of Schenectady.

"Our staff has done a lot of the interior structural demolition," Hammond said, to save costs.

"We're looking to get the building closed in by fall.

"Five different contracts entail demolishing portions of the existing building; bidding supply and furnish of steel; bidding to a contractor for reinforcement of existing trusses; and we're bidding the front expansion."

The design is being phased so interior final design and heating systems can be bid in December.

Design firms working on the project are primarily local architects and engineers, from Saranac Lake, Middlebury, Vt., and Warren, Vt., Hammond said.

BIG BALLROOM
The new Conference Center at Lake Placid will increase capacity to host groups of 2,000 people.

"We are designing a ballroom from the renovated Lussi Rink that can accommodate 750 people seated for dinner," Hammond said.

A new kitchen will service the Conference Center.

"There will be a total of seven meeting rooms, plus a board room. And those seven meeting rooms will be able to break out those 750 people in the ballroom."

RINK RENOVATION
A second phase will update the 1932 rink section of the building.

"After we get through the ballroom project, we'll renovate the 1932 rink to an event space for groups above 750 to 2,000," Hammond said.

"Then, that side of the new Conference Center will divide into six rooms and be able to accommodate 1,600 people."

The combination of meeting/convention space will provide a wide range of options for groups coming to Lake Placid.

And Lake Placid/Essex County Visitors Bureau offices will be situated on the ground level.

A small practice skating rink and the Lussi Rink will be removed from the Olympic Center.

But the complex still contains three ice-skating rinks, used year-round for skating shows, training and ice-hockey events.

"None of our competition rinks are abandoned," Hammond said.

LEANING GREEN
A central goal is to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), a green building rating system.

The idea is to increase energy efficiency throughout construction to lessen the structure's carbon footprint.

To attain LEED certification, ORDA has removed conduits and wires, making sure all materials are being recycled.

"I think the new exterior design is exciting," Hammond said.

"We're using local stone, creating overhang to protect the building from weathering and to reduce snow removal.

"The window systems we're using have a very high thermal efficiency. And the building itself is going to be highly insulated."

FINISH IN 2011
The entire project will cost between $15 million and $16 million.

"If we have money left over, we're going to move on to the 1932 (Olympic Center facade) and restore as much its original design as we can," Hammond said.

ORDA anticipates a January 2011 completion date.

E-mail Kim Smith Dedam at: kdedam@pressrepublican.com