Crews reach milestone in construction of new Seattle arena

SEATTLE — Crews reached a milestone in the construction of the new arena at Seattle Center.

“Last September, we started digging the hole,” says Ken Johnsen, construction executive for Oak View Group and NHL Seattle. “Our goal was to reach a point where we could start putting in the concrete [permanent pilings] by early 2020. That’s happening and we are about 90 percent done with hauling the dirt. We should be finished by mid-March.”

Officials working on the project said crews will remove the temporary columns and put in the permanent pilings, sinking them into the ground and put together a steel framework that will attach to the columns.

“That rebar needs to be just right,” explains Johnsen.

The final step: Pour concrete around and over the rebar.

Officials said once the permanent pilings are secure to help support the roof, then the temporary steel columns can be removed.

The pilings, which will hold the roof, are expected to be completed sometime this summer.

“We’re starting to get a sense of, hey, this is how this arena’s going to feel,” says Johnson.

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