Five national architectural and engineering firms, "including the company that designed new homes for the Minnesota Twins, Wild and University of Minnesota football team, have submitted renderings and plans for a new $975 million Vikings stadium," according to Richard Meryhew of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. Among the firms submitting bids to the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority "by Thursday's deadline" was K.C.-based Populous, "formerly known as HOK Sport." Populous designed the Twins' Target Field, which "opened to rave reviews in 2010," along with TCF Bank Stadium and Xcel Energy Center. The "other bidders" on the Vikings' project are L.A.-based AECOM, "a firm involved in the design of CenturyLink Field;" Philadelphia-based Ewing Cole, a company "that designed the $1.6 billion MetLife Stadium;" Dallas-based HKS Inc., "architect for the $1.2 billion Cowboys Stadium;" and K.C.-based HNTB Corp., "designer of the $1.2 billion Santa Clara, Calif., stadium under construction" for the 49ers. Finalists will "appear at a public forum at the Metrodome at 5 p.m. Sept. 6 to show off their resumés." MSFA Exec Dir Ted Mondale said that stadium renderings and plans "won't be unveiled to the public, however, until an architect is picked." Meryhew notes the MSFA's decision is "expected to be announced at the authority's Sept. 14 meeting" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 8/31).
