ARC and Shawmut Design and Construction joined UMass Chan in celebrating a major milestone on the New Education and Research Building on Monday, August 22^nd with a topping off ceremony to commemorate the iron workers and the last steel beam placed atop of the structure during its final stages of construction.

During a topping off ceremony, it is a special moment shared alongside those that's been involved in the project and to sign the last steel beam before it's raised in place of the highest point of the building. To accompany the last beam, which is often painted white, an evergreen tree also known as the "Christmas Tree" along with the country's flag is attached to the opposite ends of the beam to represent the completion of the building's framing and also to symbolize well wishes and good luck for the future of the building project and its eventual occupants.

The highest point of the structure was placed 184 feet above the concrete slab foundation with all 5,873 steel beams and columns in place that form the building structure's frame.

For more information about UMass Chan's Topping off Ceremony, visit Topping off ceremony marks major milestone in UMass Chan construction project (umassmed.edu)