View source for Houston Field House

{{Infobox sports location
|name = Houston Field House
|opened = 1949
|location = 1900 Peoples Avenue
|capacity = 4,800 seated
|teams = {{symbol|RPI sports logo.png}} RPI Engineers <br/>
* Men's ice hockey
* Women's ice hockey
* ACHA club hockey
}}

The '''Houston Field House''' is the home of the [[RPI Engineers]] men's and women's hockey teams<ref>https://rpiathletics.com/sports/2010/5/20/GEN_0520104208.aspx?id=2762</ref>. Opened in 1949, it is the second oldest rink in college hockey (behind Princeton's Hobey Baker Arena, opened in 1923), and its 4,800 seats make it the largest rink in the ECAC Hockey conference.

Despite popular belief, the Field House was not originally an aircraft hangar. Instead, it was a Navy warehouse in Rhode Island<ref name=":0">https://web.archive.org/web/20080513105624/http://www.rpi.edu/dept/aux_serv/fieldhouse/history.html</ref>. Following World War 2, the Institute purchased the warehouse as surplus, had it moved to Troy, and refurbished it. It was opened in October 1949 as the ''RPI Field House'' by Institute President Livingston W. Houston, during festivities for the Institute's 125th anniversary. Following Houston's death in 1977, the Field House was renamed in his honor.<ref>https://digitalassets.archives.rpi.edu/do/65866537-3ac8-4e0a-a462-c1e4ecf85f92#page/2/mode/2up</ref> 

Upon opening, the Field House could be converted for use as a basketball court. In addition, the playing surface could be converted to seating for large ceremonies. Many commencements were held at the Field House until [[East Campus Athletic Village|ECAV]] was completed in 2009. 

In the 1980s, poles that supported the roof but obstructed views were removed during a renovation.<ref name=":0" /> A renovation in the early 2010s modernized the interior, added a private viewing box for the [[President of the Institute|President]], and added a glass facade facing Peoples Avenue.<ref>https://www.sasaki.com/projects/rensselaer-polytechnic-institute-houston-fieldhouse-multi-purpose-arena/</ref> The stage at the back of the Field House, where the [[Pep Band]] played, was removed during this renovation, forcing the band to the top of the stands. Over Summer 2026, the cooling system for the ice is being replaced, and there are plans for a major renovation in the near future that would install new seating/suites and move the concourse above the playing surface.<ref>https://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/rpi-s-houston-field-house-renovations-begin-early-21245127.php</ref> 

For many years, the Field House was the largest arena in the Capital District. As such, it has hosted concerts from many notable artists, such as The Beach Boys, Rush, Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne, and Bruce Springsteen.<ref>https://archives.rpi.edu/big-name-concerts</ref>