10/28/2020
Most contractors would jump at the chance to have a roof overhead during a major rebuild. But for the team turning earthquake-prone Seattle’s 411,000-sq-ft KeyArena into the 932,000-sq-ft Climate Pledge Arena, the city-owned facility’s historic helmet has been a 44-million-lb design and construction headache.
Keeping the roof in place “ended up being more complicated than anticipated,” says Ken Johnsen, construction executive for Oak View Group (OVG), the developer of the privately financed sports and entertainment venue.