La Crosse Center board approves 2027–2031 capital projects including chiller and South Hall upgrades

The La Crosse Center board voted to approve a multi-year capital improvement plan for 2027–2031 that includes HVAC and chiller replacements, South Hall restroom and sound-system work, technology infrastructure upgrades and other lifecycle projects.

Board members moved and seconded the measure and approved it by voice vote. Josh (S6), who presented the plan, said the projects respond to equipment reaching or exceeding typical life expectancies installed around 2000 and, in some cases, as far back as 1980. "These all these sort of things will allow for better experiences for the guests when they enter our building," he said while outlining the technology upgrades, which include $50,000 annually across multiple years to improve Wi-Fi, switches and to move the La Crosse Center AV system off the city network.

The plan schedules staged work across the period: immediate work already completed included South Hall exterior door replacements; 2026–2027 work covers restroom remodels and HVAC upgrades; 2028–2029 includes arena improvements and locker-room HVAC replacements; later years propose freight-elevator and escalator upgrades and Riverside-area carpet replacement. Josh estimated a new basketball court could cost between $180,000 and $250,000 depending on specifications.

Board members discussed procurement and warranties for large items. A member noted the base chiller replacement bid arrived at expected pricing and asked who would service it after warranty; Josh said the unit carries a warranty and thereafter servicing would be arranged on an as-needed basis. Josh also described a recommended chiller service-and-overhaul funding option that would bundle inspections, calibrations and a full overhaul to reduce future downtime and spread costs over time.

During discussion about a possible video board, a presenter (S7) said rental costs were around $30,000 and that a purchase request had been budgeted as "half 1,000,000 in 2029" (as stated in the meeting). The presenter said staff may seek to accelerate that request to 2027 pending tighter cost estimates.

The board approved the capital projects package by voice vote after a motion and second. The projects will move to the planning committee and then to the city council for final adoption per the board’s regular process.