June 22, 2016

Mortenson finishes $1.1B U.S. Bank Stadium

AP Photo/Jim Mone [enlarge]

Mortenson Construction last week turned over the keys of U.S. Bank Stadium to owner Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority and the Minnesota Vikings NFL football team.

The Vikings on Sept. 18 will open their 2016 season in the 70,000-seat stadium that cost $1.1 billion to build.

Mortenson substantially completed the 1.75 million-square-foot stadium six weeks ahead of the scheduled July 29 target date.

About 8,000 workers built the stadium in two-and-a-half years. More than 4 million hours were worked.

“Mortenson Construction has done a phenomenal job keeping us ahead of schedule while building the most amazing stadium in the United States,” said Michele Kelm-Helgen, chair of the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, in a news release. “Mortenson took building the largest transparent roof in North America and the largest operable doors in the world in stride, and succeeded.”

The stadium's fixed-roof design includes an array of transparent ETFE plastic panels. The stadium also has five large pivoting glass doors, zinc metal exterior panels, LED lighting, 2,000 flat screen TVs and two concourses with 360-degree circulation.

Backers say the venue has the closest seats (41 feet) to the field in the NFL.

HKS was the architect.

A grand opening ceremony will be held July 22, followed by public open houses July 23-24.

The first sporting event at the stadium will be an Aug. 3 soccer match between AC Milan and Chelsea F.C. as part of the 2016 International Champions Cup. In 2018, the stadium will host Super Bowl LII.

The stadium's website says the venue will be a significant piece of the overall revitalization of downtown east Minneapolis. It says a $400 million development is planned adjacent to the stadium that will have office, retail and residential space. There also will be a new two-block community park.