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Eero Saarinen Travel: The Yale Whale

July 23, 2008 at 10:30 AM | 0 Comments

Although Eero Saarinen seemed to have a passion for flight, he must have also had a passion for education--he at very least was able to take advantage of schools with deep pockets. As a prime example, Yale University commissioned Saarinen to design a distinctive hockey rink, and the David S. Ingalls Rink, built between 1953 and 1958, is still going strong today as it continues to hold just shy of 3,500 fans for men's and women's hockey.

The rink, often referred to as "The Whale" or "The Yale Whale," due to it's unique shape, was constructed at a cost of $1.5 million, twice of what was originally anticipated. That's OK with us because it's truly a beauty with its curved roof that's made possible through a 300-foot concrete arch supported by a network of cables. The building not only holds the rink, but locker rooms, a weight room and a reception area as well.

The most exciting work on the facility since its construction begins this year as Yale has approved a $23 million dollar renovation. New locker rooms, training rooms, press boxes and updated seating are all part of the project. Some of the new facilities will be included in a 14,000 square foot addition that thankfully will be created underground and shouldn't take away any of the features from the original structure. Many of the new features will debut this fall, with work continuing through late 2009.

Related Stories:
· Ingalls Rink [Official Site]
· Eero Saarinen Travel Map [Jaunted]
· Architecture Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: schummi06514]

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