3M Arena at Mariucci, University of Minnesota

When the University of Minnesota set out to build a new home for NCAA Golden Gophers hockey, they weren’t looking for extravagance. They wanted a place that felt like Minnesota: honest, spirited, and built for community.

The previous Williams–Mariucci Arena had aged out of its usefulness, and the University needed a venue that delivered a better experience for athletes and fans—while still respecting budget, campus character, and the deep hockey culture of the region.

Our response was simple in concept but transformative in practice: a single seating bowl. Bringing every fan closer to the ice created a livelier, more intense atmosphere—one that visiting teams still talk about today. With everyone gathered around the game, the arena immediately took on the feeling of a true home-ice advantage.

The top-loaded bowl, a notable innovation in 1993, eliminated traditional vomitories and allowed spectators to reach their seats from an open concourse above. The result was an uninterrupted view of the rink the moment you stepped inside—an experience that’s now a standard in arena design.

Working in a design-build partnership with Opus Corporation and Opus Architects and Engineers, we focused on creating a building that was both efficient and expressive. By reducing unnecessary excavation and keeping the activity level to only what was programmatically needed, the arena stayed compact, economical, and highly functional. A long-span roof—built from a series of triangular and flat trusses—keeps the sightlines clear and the structure efficient. It’s a system we’ve adapted and refined for future venues.

Since opening in 1993, the 3M Arena at Mariucci has hosted decades of unforgettable hockey: near-capacity crowds, championship runs, and alumni who return to sit together in the 240-seat Gold Room with its superior views of the ice. It’s also a building that continues to serve the broader community—hosting collegiate events, practices, and even varsity basketball games.

In 2007, Sports Illustrated named it one of the Top 10 college sports venues in the country—the only hockey arena to make the list. More than 30 years later, it remains one of the most respected and beloved homes in college athletics, still earning praise for the fan and player experience it delivers.