Project Profile: KeyBank Center, located in Buffalo, NY, has been home to the Buffalo Sabres since 1996. The venue is the largest indoor arena in Western NY, seating 19,070 fans, and is also home to the Buffalo Bandits of the National Lacrosse League. Additionally, the space is often used as a venue for concerts and other community events.
Challenge: There is a lot more that goes into maintaining a National Hockey League approved ice rink than running the Zamboni throughout the game to keep the ice smooth. It takes precision, depth of knowledge, and technical expertise. To meet stringent indoor ice standards from the NHL, the arena needed a customized Building Automation System to coordinate each chiller unit with the facility’s HVAC system to maintain precise temperature and humidity control.
Stark Solution: Stark Tech was chosen to be the controls and service provider for the KeyBank Center back in 1995 and has been working with the facility ever since. Stark’s team customized a centralized Building Management System to monitor the facility’s mechanical and electrical systems, surveillance, and security. The goal was to optimize building performance, control costs and energy usage, and minimize risk.
Data pulled from the building management system, including infrared ice surface temperature sensors and slab temperature sensors, are used to automate, maintain, and adhere to the strict NHL temperature and humidity regulations. Sensor data is used to control and detect faults within the refrigeration condensers, compressors, glycol pumps, and hot-gas solenoids. The sensors also measure oil temperature and pressure for early detection of impeding equipment failures.
Project Result:
For the past 25+ years, Stark has continued to upgrade and integrate Schneider Electric building controls throughout the facility to maintain precise temperature and humidity conditions inside the arena.
Project Components:
- Centralized BMS System
- Integrated Controls System
- Energy Optimization with KWh metering
- Dehumidification controls
- Biometric access controls
- Digital video surveillance
- Ice rink infrared sensor controls
- Press box touch screen lighting controls
