Sand Filter Helps Stadium Meet Filtration Requirements
In May 2012, the Minnesota legislature and the Minneapolis city council approved funding for a new $975-billion multi-use stadium that would be home to the Minnesota Vikings NFL team. U.S. Bank Stadium broke ground in December 2013 and involved a complete renovation of an entire city block to remodel the old Metrodome stadium and construct the Downtown East Development—a 12.5-acre commercial area connecting the downtown core to the stadium district. A new plaza space was developed to complement programming at the new stadium.
According to Rhonda S. Pierce, P.E., president of Pierce Pini + Associates and the project’s engineer, no storm water management was required in the east side of the plaza because it lies atop an underground parking garage. The west side of the plaza, however, consisted of surface parking, and storm water management was required because 1 acre of area was disturbed.
Any storm water system selected for the west plaza would need to meet space constraints as well as the city of Minneapolis’ requirements for Rate Control and Stormwater Treatment. The project’s engineers selected the StormTrap system.
Engineers specified StormTrap to design a system that would meet the city’s strict water-quality and volume requirements, as well as accommodate openings for light poles and loading capacities. The finished solution is a 4-ft-6-in.-tall modular precast storm water system that utilizes a SingleTrap configuration.
The StormTrap system is wrapped in an impermeable liner, so it does not infiltrate into the surrounding area, and, according to Matt Kamenick, P.E., territory manager for StormTrap, the modular design “allows a very customizable footprint in a compact area.”
StormTrap worked with the project’s contractors to ensure the installation process was smooth, and the system has since proven to be efficient and economical.
The U.S. Bank Stadium project was completed June 17, 2016—six weeks ahead of schedule and in time for the kickoff of the 2016 NFL season. In addition to the new football stadium, StormTrap completed storm water system installations for four other projects in the Downtown East Development project, helping to ensure comprehensive storm water management for the commercial district.