Iron workers at Barclays Center have "replaced hundreds of bolts that anchor the panels" to the building’s structure after engineers determined that "weaker ones were originally installed, raising concerns about the structure’s integrity," according to Charles Bagli of the N.Y. TIMES. After examining "every joint, engineers determined that only 8 percent of the 23,351 weaker bolts needed to be replaced." But the issue has "led to questions about communications between regulators and the arena’s developer, Forest City Ratner." The N.Y. Buildings Department said that its inspectors "had not been told about the problem with the bolts." Forest City Ratner Exec VP/Construction Robert Sana "played down the problem." He said that such issues "were not unusual during a major construction project, particularly one with highly customized architecture." But Sana added that the "result was worth it." Bagli noted in addition to issues with the bolts, the "fabricator for the 12,000 steel panels -- no two alike -- abruptly shut down midway through the job," and the panels have "occasionally dripped rusty orange blossoms onto the sidewalk." But the panels eventually "will stop rusting and workers will use power washers to remove all traces of metal from the sidewalks" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/1).
