In Almaty, details of the reconstruction of the high-altitude skating rink Medeu continue to be revealed. As reported by infohub.kz, the city akimat's press service shared key stages of the upcoming work.
According to Nurbek Nursagatov, head of Almaty's construction department, the current renovation will be the most significant technical upgrade of the legendary sports facility in recent decades. He emphasized that the modernization will bring the rink to a qualitatively new level without affecting its historic appearance.
"The main feature of the project is that all work is carried out with maximum attention to the architectural heritage of the complex. Despite the deep modernization of the engineering infrastructure, the exterior of Medeu, which is on the preliminary list of UNESCO World Heritage, will remain unchanged," the akimat noted.
One of the central stages will be the complete replacement of the technological slab of the ice field, covering an area of 10,500 square meters, as well as the renewal of the cooling system. The new equipment will maintain impeccable ice quality even at air temperatures up to +15 degrees Celsius, significantly increasing the reliability of the complex during the season.
"The modernization will also affect engineering systems. Thanks to the automation of technological processes and the switch of heat supply to natural gas, energy consumption will be reduced by 25–30%, making the facility more economical and environmentally friendly," the speaker added.
Changes will also affect sports infrastructure. Under the eastern tribune, modern rooms for judges, a doping control zone, and locker rooms of 50 square meters each will be built.