America's most popular sporting event, the Super Bowl, will take place next week in a new Minneapolis stadium featuring angular protrusions, zinc cladding and a roof partly made of plastic film.
Located in downtown Minneapolis, the US Bank Stadium is home to the Minnesota Vikings, a member of the National Football League (NFL). Encompassing 1.8 million square feet (167,225 square metres), the building also serves as a venue for events such as concerts, conventions and high school and college athletic games.

On 2 February, the 66,200-seat stadium will host the 52nd Super Bowl, the most important American football game of the year. The Philadelphia Eagles will play the New England Patriots at the venue, in a match predicted to be the country's most-watched sporting event. The building occupies a prominent urban site totalling 38 acres (15 hectares). Wrapped in a faceted envelope, the steel-frame building has a sculptural form influenced by the region's Scandinavian heritage and natural topography.

"HKS designed the building to reflect the culture, climate and context of its city, drawing inspiration from ice formations on nearby St Anthony's Falls, as well as Scandinavian design such as Viking longboats," said the US-based firm, which has offices around the globe.

The exterior walls consists of dark zinc panelling set against vast sheets of glass. An angular protrusion on the western elevation has invoked references to the prow of Viking ships.
One of the build...