Topping out

A high point, literally, was reached in the construction of the new library this week with the traditional "topping out" ceremony.  The last piece of steel was raised to the highest point of the building's structure, marking the completion of the skeleton.  The finishing touches can now begin, including flooring, windows, paint and many other details.

A small tree was attached to the piece of steel, and if you look very closely in the photo below, you can see the tree at the top of the concrete corner "tower."

Following the ceremony, I had another walk-through the building, and indeed, those fir beams visible on the second floor are a thing of beauty!  I can hardly wait to see the reactions from our customers when they see them for the first time!

The roof is still being completed, with several layers, including membrane and insulation, still to come. The photo below is looking north, with the elevator shaft in the middle:

This photo is looking up toward the clerestory windows; the railing is temporary.

The view from the windows still impresses me, and I'm happy to see that our customers will be able to enjoy these views while sitting in the many chairs around the outside walls.  The photo below is looking southwest.