KeyArena renovation project makes headway; roof to be reattached in February

The KeyArena renovation project has reached a milestone in its push for the new arena to be ready to host Seattle’s incoming NHL team and the WNBA’s Storm by the summer of 2021.

A representative of The Oak View Group -- the developer of the $930 million renovation project -- told reporters this week that KeyArena’s iconic roof is now firmly suspended by temporary supports as work continues below to design the new cutting-edge arena.

"We are drilling permanent foundations as we speak," OVG executive Ken Johnsen said.

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Roof reattachment will begin in late February, according to Johnsen, after the removal of 600,000 cubic yards of dirt. Seventy-five percent of the months-long job has been finished to this point, per Johnsen, as trucks are excavating about 7,000 cubic yards each night (more than the initial target of 6,000 cubic yards). Workers have dug 50 feet below ground level to double the size of the original space from 400,000 square feet to 800,000 square feet.

The 40-million-pound roof, which was designated for historical preservation, will be reattached to new foundation with steel posts when the excavation process is done.

"This is one of a kind,’’ Johnsen said. "This size of roof, this weight of a roof being held in place while you're building this big of a building underneath it. I think it means for everybody working on it, it's interesting, it's challenging and something they're going to remember for a long time."

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Digging has already been completed in the northwest corner of the site, where new foundation is being drilled. Space for the new arena’s 36,000 square-foot atrium has also been dug out, though it won’t be built until later in the year. Naming rights of the atrium belongs to Seattle-based Alaska Airlines, which announced a partnership last week with NHL Seattle.

So headway has been made in the construction phase of the renovation project. Most of last year was spent demolishing the structure of the old arena. Now crews are building the new arena.

Johnsen said a more specific date for completion of the new arena, which should be finished by the summer of 2021, will be clearer in late April or early May.

"We need to open this up," Johnsen said. "We need to open it up for hockey, we need to open it up for the Storm, we need to open it up for the concerts. So keeping that 'every day is important' mentality is key. … The 220 workers who show up here every day work that way. The biggest challenge is recognizing that every day matters."

Ben Arthur covers the Seahawks and other local sports for SeattlePI. He can be reached by email at benjaminarthur@seattlepi.com. Follow him on twitter at @benyarthur.