SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) -- The city is moving forward with a consultant's study of the bulging panels on the Denny Sanford Premier Center, in hopes of putting to rest the debate over if the issue is cosmetic or a threat to the $15 million structure's integrity.
Public works director Mark Cotter says city leadership agrees that it's time to settle that issue once and for all, using a 3rd party. He says the city will go through a process of setting the timeline and standard for the work, then soliciting and selecting a bidder with the goal of having the review done by the end of the year.
Everyone on the city council was on board with the plan, Greg Neitzert led the charge saying "it's really about making sure the largest expenditure in city history is protected, we're responsible to give that assurance to citizens." Marshall Selberg called it the right thing to do as people look for closure to the drama that's surrounded the bulging panels since they were discovered when the building opened in 2014.
Up until now it's been believed that the panels pose no threat to the structural integrity of the building. Workers attempted two different methods of fixing the panels before the building opened in the fall of 2014.
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Since then the city did reach a settlement with contractors, including Mortenson Construction over the faulty work, which was made public last month to much outrage.
Believe it or not the faulty panels on the Premier Center aren't the biggest SNAFU that Mortenson is dealing with. They are also fixing fiberglass panels on the outside of US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis that have come un-lodged. They are pressing to have that work done in time for Super Bowl LII next February.