Photo: Faith Christenson

The finished product of U.S. Bank Stadium has drawn rave reviews from national and international media and Vikings fans.

The way in which the 1.75-million-square-foot venue was built is also being recognized.

From the beginning, it was important to the Vikings that the largest public/private construction project in state history be as inclusive as possible from workforce and business participation standpoints and with an emphasis on local workers and contractors.

Aggressive goals were set in the stadium's equity plan. The project called for minorities to make up at least 32 percent of the workforce and women to make up at least six percent. The project finished with 37 percent minority and nine percent women workforce participation.

The project also included goals of nine percent minority-owned and 11 percent women-owned businesses, and the final totals were 11 percent minority-owned and 15 percent women-owned businesses thanks to a commitment by the Vikings, MSFA, Mortenson Construction and Thor Construction.

The success of the project was recognized on Wednesday when the Metropolitan Economic Development Association and Association of Women Contractors presented the Vikings, MSFA and Mortenson an award that named U.S. Bank Stadium the "Large Project of the Year" at the Construction Partner Program awards.

Vikings Chief Operating Officer Kevin Warren and Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Stadium Development Lester Bagley attended the award ceremony.

Warren said some in the construction industry questioned the feasibility of those goals, but the Vikings were committed to exceeding them.

"We were very confident and adamant that it was important that we gave back to the community, not only from the construction standpoint but from the business development and creation standpoint," Warren said. "We believe the emphasis on diversity of the construction workforce and the companies who helped build U.S. Bank Stadium will have a significant impact on future construction projects in the State of Minnesota."