Seems pretty cool, all told. I have to admit, I'm very confused what makes the new indoor football building better than the current one if the leaks were fixed? Is the intent that any of this space (particularly the Olympic Sport facility) would be taking over what the Field House provides, or is that entirely separate? What are they planning would go in the FH's space if so (since many on here believed the BB facility would go there..)? Also, seemed a little odd to come to the table with this phase I plan without an idea whatsoever of where the track will go. That's a big piece of real estate to just assume you'll find room for. Perhaps it's a natural fit for St Paul near the soccer stadium (maybe even share the field in the center with them since soccer is in the fall??).
I also have to make a side-note.. Teague mentioned putting ~300 parking spaces underground. First, there are 174 on-site today. Why increase the capacity when we will just be completing the CC LRT, seeing enhanced bus service in the area, better on-street bicycle facilities, and national/state-wide reductions in car use?? Also, putting them underground would be.. well, expensive. Like $20k per spot (minimum, but since they're doing construction already I'll go on the far low-end). That could be $6M+ of the proposed $190M budget. Do AD employees pay to park in those lots? Operation of parking facilities costs $500/year/space, I would hope that they use some financial sense and de-bundle parking costs from this project and charge appropriate rates to the employees who use it (like, they fund the opportunity cost of the construction and ongoing maintenance). Just a thought.
Finally, while the northern end of the building with glass looks better than the blank brick wall, it would be nice if this addresses the street as well as humanly possible. Multiple stretches of glass showing the inside/offices/etc so that the 2-3 block stretch along a busy pedestrian street is not terrible to walk/bike along.
