Topping out

Topping out

In building construction, topping out, or topping off, is a ceremony held when the last beam is placed at the top of a building. The term may also refer to the overall completion of the building's structure. A topping out ceremony is usually held to commemorate the event.

While common in England, Germany and Poland, the origins of the ceremony are obscure. Its practice has long been an important component of timber frame building. A tree or leafy branch is placed on the topmost beam, often with flags and streamers tied to it. A toast is usually drunk and sometimes the workmen are treated to a meal. The ceremony has also been common in the United States when a skyscraper is completed. The last girder to be hoisted is painted white and signed by all the workmen involved. In other types of building, the ceremony typically focuses on the bedding of the last block of masonry or brick. The ceremony is akin to the practice of placing a newspaper or coins under the foundation stone of a building.

History

The practice of "topping out" a new building can be traced to the ancient Scandinavian religious practice of placing a tree on the top of a new building to appease the tree-dwelling spirits of their ancestors that had been displaced. The practice migrated to England with Scandinavian invaders and took root there.

Topping off ceremony

Today, a non-religious but formal ceremony is often held to commemorate this milestone in the construction of a building. All tradesman on the job usually join in the celebration as well as the supervisors, representatives of the architecture and engineering firms, the owner or representatives of the owning organization, donors, and any VIPs that are invited. The ceremony is often parlayed into a media event for public relations purposes.

While the ceremony itself has no standard agenda, it usually includes the placing of an evergreen tree upon the structure to symbolize growth and bring luck. State and national flags are often raised atop the structure. It may take place during lunch time and can include a catered meal and entertainment. In large building construction, the topping out beam may be signed by the ironworker crew, or by local dignitaries depending on the importance of the building. Ironworkers may take this as an opportunity to publicize their union local. The beam is signed on the ground before it is hoisted into place by crane. The height of the ceremony takes place when the piece of steel is lifted into place and secured (although not completely). Often, the final piece of steel has little or no structural significance to the structure. After the ceremony is over, the piece of steel will be completely secured.

The topping out ceremony is similar to ship naming and launching ceremonies and probably of similar antiquity, and was perhaps done to placate the gods and to shield the building from harm.

ee also

* Builders' rites

References

* Robinson, John V (2001). [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3732/is_200110/ai_n8986046 "The 'topping out' traditions of the high-steel ironworkers"] . "Western Folklore", Fall 2001.
*http://www.carpenters.org/carpentermag/Topping910_01.pdf Topping-Off! (goes into ancient Scandinavian religious roots); Carpenter Magazine; Sep/Oct 2001; accessed 2007-02-11
*http://www.stp.uh.edu/vol68/160/news/news4.html Tree symbolizes campus' growth (tree is still a part of the ceremony); The Daily Cougar; Volume 68, Issue 160, Monday, July 28, 2003; accessed 2007-02-11
*http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/wood200312230101.asp?category=all%20projects&id=23


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • topping-out — toppˈing out see ↑top out below. • • • Main Entry: ↑top …   Useful english dictionary

  • topping-out course — Top out Top out (Building) To top off; to finish by putting on a cap of top (uppermost) course (called a {top ping out course}). [Webster 1913 Suppl.] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • topping out — Denoting a market or a security that is at the end of a period of rising prices and can now be expected to stay on a plateau or even to decline. Bloomberg Financial Dictionary …   Financial and business terms

  • topping out —    see *building trade …   A Dictionary of English folklore

  • topping-out ceremony — /tɒpɪŋ ˈaʊt ˌsɛrəməni/ (say toping owt .seruhmuhnee) noun a celebration held by construction workers, etc., when the highest point on the structure of a new building is completed …  

  • Topping — may refer to: * Dan Topping, a former owner of the New York Yankees * Keith Topping, a British screenwriter * Norman Topping, a former president of the University of Southern California * Roseberry Topping, a hill in England * Topping from the… …   Wikipedia

  • Out of Control (Girls Aloud album) — Out of Control Studio album by Girls Aloud Released 3 November 2008 …   Wikipedia

  • Out of the Blue (Delta Goodrem song) — Out of the Blue Single by Delta Goodrem from the album Mistaken Identity B si …   Wikipedia

  • Out of the Blue (song) — Infobox Single Name = Out of the Blue Caption = Artist = Delta Goodrem from Album = Mistaken Identity B side = Visualise Beautiful Madness How a Dream Looks Released = October 8, 2004 (Australia) Format = CD Recorded = London, 2004 Genre = Piano… …   Wikipedia

  • Out of Touch — For the song by Lucinda Williams, see Essence (album). Out of Touch Single by Hall Oates from the album Big Bam Boom …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”