Zinc Panels On U.S. Bank Stadium Get Repaired; Mortenson To Reinforce Facade

Workers "repaired a missing strip of zinc paneling that fell from U.S. Bank Stadium's western prow on Monday, prompting building contractor M.A. Mortenson Construction to reinforce the facade in hopes of preventing further damage from high winds," according to Liz Sawyer of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. Mortenson Senior VP John Wood on Wednesday said that the company, "along with subcontractor McGrath, will install additional fasteners to exterior panels in the coming weeks." A statement from the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority said this announcement comes two days after "extreme weather and high winds" caused panels to "partially disengage." Both moisture and wind have "previously caused trouble" for the $1.1B stadium that opened in August. Thousands of zinc panels that line the exterior have "been the focus of a couple of concerns on the building." The building, $489M of which was "covered by the taxpayers, is under warranty by Mortenson for two years" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 12/29).