MILWAUKEE -- The roof at the new Milwaukee Bucks Arena, just north of the BMO Harris Bradley Center, is beginning to take shape.
On Tuesday morning, crews installed half of one of the long trusses that will support the roof.
There will be nine trusses total – seven long ones and two short ones.
“This is the first component going up to build the long span portion of the roof,” said Ellen Becker, Project Engineer with Mortenson Construction. “This is the part that’s going to go over the basketball court.”
The first half of the truss was bolted into place on Tuesday. Becker said it will eventually be welded together with the arena’s frame.
“We have really high grade – 65 grade – steel in the majority of our roofing components,” Becker said.
She said the planning process for installing the trusses has spanned several months.
“We’ve been planning for a long time. There’s a lot of people involved,” Becker said. “The crane operator communicates constantly with the people on the ground.”
Becker said the process of installing all nine trusses will run until early fall.
At the construction site on Tuesday, Bucks President Peter Feigin said the project remains on schedule.
He added the installation of the first roof truss is one of many exciting milestones.
“You’re really starting to see the form of an arena, which is exciting,” Feigin said. “Make no mistake, there will be no better place in the world to watch a basketball game.”
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