by JORDAN ARMSTRONG

WFAA

Posted on June 19, 2014 at 6:42 PM

ALLEN, Texas -- A report released Thursday by Nelson Forensics says its engineers have found "additional shortcomings" in the design of Allen's $60 million Eagle Stadium.

The school board had a closed door briefing Monday night with the engineering firm it hired last year to investigate the stadium's structure.

Cracks were discovered on the concourse, forcing the stadium to be closed. Graduation ceremonies had to be moved to another location and the 2014 football schedule was rattled.

The Allen School District is now using two different engineering firms to solve the problems.

The report from Nelson Forensics stated that more issues were discovered in major areas of the stadium, including in the concrete columns which support the press box and the steel framing of the press box.

There was also inadequate steel reinforcement of a retaining wall and weak connections between the main scoreboard and its base, the firm said.

"These are primarily engineering failures," Ryan T. Chancey, structural engineer and Executive Director of Operations at Nelson Forensics said. "While the concourse is the largest and most serious area, we did find failures in the structural design throughout the stadium."

Allen ISD Superintendent Lance Hindt says the district is working with Nelson Forensics and another firm, Datum Engineering, to ensure the stadium is fixed by next June. Work could begin as early as next month.

"As the full scope of the project emerges, we are now able to develop a repair plan that will address the design flaws and have the stadium back in operation by next June," Hindt said.

The original architect, PBK Architects, and contractor, Pogue Construction, who built the 18,000-seat stadium in 2012 are expected to foot the bill. Early estimates put the cost of repairs at $1 million.

PBK released a statement Thursday afternoon.

"PBK has reviewed Nelson Forensics’ findings and continues to work closely and collaboratively with the Allen Independent School District and our other partners to achieve a solution to the problem at Eagle Stadium," the statement read. "[...]Together with the Allen ISD and our partners, we are addressing all aspects of this situation and will respond swiftly and diligently to implement the repairs to reopen Eagle Stadium as soon as possible."