New Vikings stadium celebrates halfway mark in construction

A year ago, demolition on the Metrodome was just finishing up. Now, with the help of more than 900 construction workers whove logged more than 1 million hours of work, a new football stadium is rising in Minneapolis Downtown East.

On Wednesday, those involved in building the massive structure celebrated the halfway mark.

Walking by the towering steel trusses and across the wide concrete concourses, Minnesota Vikings team officials and construction leaders marked the milestone for the more-than-$1 billion glass-and-steel stadium, showing off the clear-glass and black-zinc panels that have already started to cover the buildings exterior as the bowl of the stadium takes shape.

Today we have a chance to celebrate, said Mark Wilf, Vikings owner and team president. This stadium will truly be a landmark for civic pride.

Despite controversy over the stadiums glass and some leadership concerns, Wednesday was all about the construction crews reaching the halfway mark. Theyve completed more than $400 million worth of work. But for the crews buzzing around the building, welding and working away, there was no halftime show for the occasion.

Instead, they are working almost around the clock to finish just over 15 months of work to make the construction deadline of July 29, 2016.

Starting this summer, seats will be put in. In May, more of the black metal panels will be installed, covering the brown installation along the facade. Eight temporary towering green trusses will be removed, and the sprawling ridge truss stretching some 970 feet across the stadium will be fully connected in June. Steel work will be done by September. And by November, the stadium will be fully enclosed, with a roof and glass panels.

That glass, which is already starting to be installed on the east side, has drawn protests from bird advocates, who argue that its deadly to birds, especially because the building is near the Mississippi Rivers migratory pathway. 3M is testing a bird-safe film, with a trial of it expected this summer.

No stadium like this

If theres any doubt about the stadiums colossal size it will be nearly double the size of the Metrodome a tour of the main concourses show that they will be two to three times wider than the Domes.

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New Vikings stadium celebrates halfway mark in construction