U.S. Bank Stadium has earned plenty of headlines in its first year of operation for both its architectural accomplishments and oddities. The same stadium that incorporated the world’s largest ETFE roof also posed a unique threat to birds.
Now, the home of the Minnesota Vikings is set to undergo a series of repairs in order to shore up leaky walls.
As AB reported in May, after being buffeted by heavy storms and wind, some of the stadium’s exterior paneling came loose, leading to leaky walls. The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority brought in engineers and metallurgists for testing of the panels, and now work is set to begin to rehab them.
From AB: Leaks, Loose Panels Prompt U.S. Bank Stadium Testing
Fox 9 reports that crews from Mortenson Construction and M.G. McGrath will begin removing the exterior panels one by one. The crews will add additional water barriers and heating tracks to help melt snow and ice, and re-secure the panels to the stadium with additional fasteners.
“As previously communicated, there is a limited area of the stadium’s exterior enclosure — less than 10 percent — that is not performing as intended and where design and construction enhancements need to be made,” John Wood, senior vice president for Mortenson, said in a statement.
The repair work will reportedly take 12 weeks, but it isn’t expected to interfere with any events taking place at the venue. Fox 9 also reports that Mortenson and McGrath will cover the majority of the repair costs.
“I wish we didn’t have these issues. But as far as safety and permanency, I’m not worried about it,” Kathleen Blatz, interim chair of the MSFA, told Fox 9. “I know it will be fixed and fixed right, and taxpayers will be protected.”
U.S. Bank Stadium was featured in this year's Athletic Business Architectural Showcase. Click here to view the Showcase entry.
