Husband may be losing his mind, but suggested this morning that it might make sense to build a covered arena, if we can figure out how to add guest quarters/heated workshop. Anyone done anything like this and have pictures? I can imagine the arena on one side, and a smaller footprint for a workshop below/apartment above. Thoughts?
I dont see why not. Many folks build their arena onto the side of a barn. The expensive part of a covered arena is the clear span trusses and the footing. You can build your shop and apartment along one of the short ends with windows into the arena if you want. The shop plus apartment will be lower than the arena and will not need to share the free span trusses. I have done clinics at a barn where the owners house opens into the arena at one short end, and the other short end is a heated kitchen lounge area.
he May change his mind …just read an article saying new construction costs are up nearly 40% since January 2021
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I’ve ridden at several barns that had working student/groom apartments built into the short side of the indoor. Check your local planning/zoning rules for what additional requirements that will impose on your building (perhaps upgraded fire security, etc.).
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Might be more cost effective to make the apartment alongside the shop and not above? You also don’t have to worry about stairs?
The wider the clear span, the more expensive it is. You will probably want all the width for the arena, so I see the shop/apartment going on one end or the other.
If I were doing a covered arena I’d do a steel structure, similar to (random internet search result) Titan https://titansteelstructures.com/metal-building-types/prefabricated-steel-riding-arenas/
I’ve seen several of that type over the years and they seem to hold up quite well, but I’ve never owned and maintained one myself. I just know I’d prefer not to maintain anything that big made of wood.
The newest trend is a coverall with shipping containers for walls. Works pretty well actually. Could turn them into a shop?
Consider also that, if you make the arena itself tall, you can add overhangs to the sides much cheaper than building a large structure and putting other than the arena itself under there.
That is what we have, the arena its own structure, and the long side has stalls and tack, feed and wash rooms as an overhang to the main arena and it could have an apartment added to it.
Whatever you do, don’t hurry, spend as long as you can just thinking and drawing what would work best and don’t be surprised if you change several times what exactly you want to build.
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Thanks Jealoushe - will look for a picture of this.
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Here are some examples, but the ones I have seen were fancier and used for skating rinks at breweries.
That is WILD!!! I’m going to look at these … how interesting.
Dang … website is defunct, and the phone number might be an escort service. HAHAHAHA!
Sorry, those pictures are not that old, must not have worked too well.
Probably getting a leak would not be good. 
May work with a minimal support frame?
