Nine months after the opening of the $1.1B U.S. Bank Stadium, stadium officials said that "leaky walls and loose panel remain a concern without definitive agreement on the extent of the problem or the proper repairs," according to Rochelle Olson of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority Exec Dir Rick Evans said that the "entire exterior of the building, which is covered in zinc panels, is being tested and studied by engineers and metallurgists." Evans, who is in his second month on the job, called the durability of the panels a "health and safety concern that is 'at the top of my priority list.'" Olson noted the panels have "been a visible problem for almost a year." In '16, general contractor M.A. Mortenson Construction "paid several million dollars to replace a moisture barrier after dampness was found on a parapet -- not a main indoor wall." Now Mortenson is "focused on the northwestern facade where water seeped into the building and created puddles in a women's restroom, a concourse and storage area." Evans: "Whether they're related or different is still a question in my mind. When we have an issue with one portion of the building, we're looking at the entire facade." Olson noted the "proposed fix under consideration: replace moisture barriers on the joints of the building's interior panels, then add a new layer of Tyvek under the zinc panels for extra protection." Mortenson Senior VP John Wood said that the company "also will install 'heat trace' to the lower edge of the wall to prevent icicles from forming." Neither Evans nor Wood would "characterize the possible cost or range of repairs." But if the problem is "big, the cost would be high and create a potentially major negotiation over who pays" (STARTRIBUNE.com, 4/29).
