MCLA Celebrates Science Center 'Topping Off'
 President Mary Grant signed her name to the top of the beam. Everyone in attendance and all of the workers wrote their name on the final piece before it was put in place. |
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts hosted a topping off ceremony Thursday to celebrate the completion of the steel structure on the campus.
The $40 million Center for Science and Innovation will be next equipped with its exterior envelope as the contractors are on pace to complete the building for next September.
College President Mary Grant characterized the event as "Christmas, New Year's and birthdays" wrapped into one day and thanked everyone from government officials to students to the board of trustees for making it happen.
"This is such an exciting day," Grant said and joked that she was too excited to read the Wikipedia definition of a topping off ceremony. "This project is our project."
A topping off ceremony is a tradition dating back to 2700 BCE, according to Project Executive Bill Aalerud of Columbia Construction, who was able to give the information that Grant was too excited to read, when the base of the structure is completed.
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 Top and bottom: Workers placed the final beam in place to a roar of cheers.Right: Corydon Thurston signs the beam. More photos from the event can be found on our Facebook page. |
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"This is the bones. The fundamental basics," architect Jeremy Oberc, of Einhorn Yaffee Prescott Architecture and Engineering, said. "Remember this moment because this is a rare opportunity. ... It is rare to see a building in this state."
The project began a year ago when the Blackinton Street site was cleared; the foundation was laid during the winter.
The steel work began in July outlining the 65,000-square-foot structure — a size Aalerud related to three football fields spread on among three floors.
The project is being built green, he said, including using steel that is about 90-95 percent recycled material.
The project means more than just another academic building to state and local officials. State Sen. Benjamin Downing, D-Pittsfield, said the investment is an investment in jobs by creating the local workforce for business growth.
Mayor Richard Alcombright, after joking that Grant used every synonym for happy except "beaming," said the project fosters relationships between the city and the college.
"This is a very special day for MCLA, the city of North Adams and the entire region," said Trustee Jane Allen.
The project is being paid by the state Division of Capital Asset Management and representative Steve O'Conner said the group "could not work with a better group than MCLA" and congratulated the school for reaching this "great milestone."
Following the speaking portion of the afternoon event, the beam was hoisted into the air and put in place to roaring cheers from the dozens of attendees.
Tags: DCAM, MCLA, school project, science center, topping off,
