Mortenson Construction, Minneapolis, recently raised the 44 million-pound roof of the Seattle Center Arena, marking a new phase in the $1 billion project, according to www.bisnow.com.
The latest lift was completed with 72 temporary steel columns, cross beams and a steel reinforcement structure called a “kickstand.” Once finished, the roof reportedly will appear as though it is floating.
Although the suspended roof is heavy, it is considered safe and is covered with sensors. It is designed to withstand wind and earthquakes, and engineers are following guidelines by the American Society of Civil Engineers’ codes and standards for “design loads during construction.”
Before the redesign, the arena’s roof was supported by 20 concrete Y-columns and four giant buttresses.
The arena is set to open during the summer of 2021. Once complete, the building will have a 17,400-person capacity for hockey and an 18,600-person capacity for WNBA games.
