Quarterback Kirk Cousins recently wrapped up his second season with the Minnesota Vikings. He was well paid to join the team—his three-year guaranteed contract is worth $84 million—but the Vikings can also lure talent with facilities that rank among the newest and best in the National Football League. In addition to their home games venue, the three-year-old U.S. Bank Stadium, the franchise’s training facilities are second to none. Among the extras at the facility officially known as the Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center, are a pair of Schweiss glass bifold doors that open to connect workout areas inside with the surrounding outdoor practice fields.

The Vikings Twins Cities Orthopedics Performance Center campus sits on approximately 35 acres south of Interstate 494 and east of Dodd Road in Eagan. The state-of-the-art team facility has four outdoor practice fields, including two that are heated and one that is synthetic, a 6,500-seat outdoor practice stadium and a field house with a 98’-high roof to accommodate punting. Since the opening of the Performance Center, the Vikings have vacated their former facility in Eden Prairie that opened in 1981 and was named after the franchise’s founder, Max Winter.

The two Schweiss bifold glass liftstrap doors are integrated into a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows at one end of the facility’s 6,100 sq. ft. weight room. Weather permitting, the doors can be opened to enable quick and convenient access to the outdoor fields. In addition to the doors, the weight room features scores of racks, weights and other conditioning equipment. There is also a cardio mezzanine overlooking the space.

Vikings trainers indicated that time is always at a premium and that was something taken into consideration when it was decided to install the large glass doors. The indoor-outdoor feel created with the doors in the open position on nice days was an added benefit.

The Schweiss bifold liftstrap doors are custom built. Both measure 20'-1" by 13'-8" and have an opening height of just over 11 feet. They operate using top-drive motors and have electric photo eye sensors, manual latch systems and an emergency back-up system in case of a power outage.

Kraus-Anderson Construction Company of Minneapolis served as the general contractor on the project, while Crawford Architects LLC of Kansas City, Mo., was in charge of the design services. The bifold doors were installed by Overhead Door Company of the Northland, of Eagan, MN.

The facility was privately financed without public subsidies, by the team’s owners, the Wilf Family. Some of its other features include:

• Two fireplaces in the locker room with black leather couches and multiple wall TVs.
• Theater auditorium with large, cushioned seating for 170.
• Expandable weight room.
•  Spacious locker rooms and treatment areas.
•  A private team auditorium with comfortable chairs for the players.
• Larger media areas and private interview rooms.
• Cryotherapy treatment chamber.
• Three pools of varying temperatures and depths for swimming and hydro-hours. In-ground hot and cold tubs each capable of accommodating up to 15 players.
• Chiropractic and massage rooms.
• A Vikings Hall of Fame and a team merchandise store, both open to the public. High School football, soccer and lacrosse games, as well as concerts, are held in the facility.