‘Topping out’ ceremony marks completion of project’s structural iron work
Creve Coeur, MO – Ironworkers Local 396 members placed the final steel beam on top of the new Barnes Jewish West County Hospital’s medical office building during a ‘topping out” ceremony March 1 to celebrate the completion of the project’s structural iron work.
The project includes a new 260,000 square-foot replacement hospital and an adjoining 100,000 square-foot medical office building located just west of Interstate 270 and Olive Boulevard in Creve Coeur.
Penn Services Superintendent and Local 396 member Michael Howard said his team of 14 to 17 Ironworkers Local 396 members began work on the office building in December. Ben Hur Construction did the iron work on the hospital portion of the project, which was completed last month.
The final beam of the office building was signed by hundreds of construction workers, doctors and employees of the hospital. A crane, operated by Operating Engineers Local 513 member Stan Miller, hoisted the beam to the top of the building.
One end of the beam carried the American flag and the other held a small evergreen tree. Howard said the flag represented patriotism and the tree symbolized on-the-job safety and the fact that no workers died on the project.
Work began on the project in early 2017. The new hospital is set to open in 2019.
- Share this story:
-
-
-
-
-
-
-