Vikings' stadium architect to be announced Friday

The architectural and engineering firm that will design the new Vikings stadium is expected to be named this week.

The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, which is working with the Vikings to oversee construction of the $975 million project, has scheduled a special meeting for 8 a.m. Friday at the Metrodome to announce the decision.

Five national firms are competing to design the development, which will be built on and near the current Metrodome site in downtown Minneapolis.

The firms are:

- HKS Inc. of Dallas, which designed NFL stadiums for the Dallas Cowboys and Indianapolis Colts.

- Ewing Cole, a Philadelphia-based firm that drew plans for the $1.6 billion MetLife Stadium, home of the New York Jets and Giants.

- HNTB Corp. of Kansas City, architect for the $1.2 billion stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., being built for the NFL's San Francisco 49ers.

- Populous, a Kansas-City based architect that designed the Twins' Target Field, Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul and TCF Bank Stadium, home of the University of Minnesota football team.

The authority and Vikings interviewed the firms two weeks ago and have spent the past two weeks reviewing and evaluating the bids.

Ground breaking for the stadium is planned for summer 2013. The Vikings hope to open the stadium in time for the 2016 NFL season.