We were appointed to design a new international-standard ice rink at Trafford City. Working closely with the client, we delivered a visually striking yet highly efficient leisure facility that prioritises long-term viability, user experience and secondary spend potential.

Project Credits

Icities LtdClient
Trafford City, Greater ManchesterLocation
Retail & Leisure Sectors
Architecture Services
74,000 sqftSize
2024 - OngoingProgramme
Planning SubmittedStatus

International-standard

ice pad capacity for 3,000 spectators

2,000 sqft

flexible F&B space

6,000 sqft

second-floor entertainment zone

3,000 spectator

capacity

The Brief & Design Development

The client approached us with a clear ambition: deliver a top-tier ice rink that could stand out in a competitive leisure environment yet be operationally efficient and commercially viable. With many ice rinks around the UK struggling due to high running costs and poor user experience, this project needed to do things differently.

Our brief was to design a fully international-standard ice pad with capacity for 3,000 spectators, blending seated and standing options to enhance the atmosphere. The scheme also needed to accommodate flexible food and beverage offers and potential leisure uses that could be adapted post-construction.

Drawing on our deep experience in industrial and leisure typologies, we proposed a utilitarian steel frame and simple cladding solution that reduced upfront costs while enabling architectural interest through form and façade design. The location, close to the Chill Factore and other high-profile attractions, also demanded a bold visual presence from afar to draw footfall and act as a local landmark. Our concept was shaped not just around views from the M60 and Trafford Centre but also around the individual journeys of users entering and experiencing the space.

The Outcome

[01]

The final design delivers a dramatic yet highly functional building that balances commercial, operational and experiential goals. The façade creates visual interest and presence without compromising on simplicity or budget, while a carefully considered materials palette supports long-term durability.

Internally, we designed spaces to support a sense of journey and atmosphere. Users transition from an intimate entrance into a loud, vibrant 12-metre-high arena, with supporting front-of-house areas including a flexible café-bar and rentable community or event rooms.

Additional flexible leisure and entertainment space at second floor level adds future revenue potential and allows the building to plug into Trafford City’s wider destination offer. The project not only raises the bar for user experience within ice sports but also challenges the perception of what’s possible in terms of leisure venue viability.