Topping Out for New Residence Halls

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas and CDI Contractors LLC will celebrate the construction of two new residence halls on the north side of campus with a topping out ceremony. In June 2006 the university broke ground on two new residence halls that will house a total of 710 students.

Each Maple Hill suite will have two 2-person rooms, a compartmentalized bathroom and an entry foyer that gives access to bedrooms and the bath. Fourth floor suites on the outside perimeter of the building also include a loft living room located above the bedrooms that is accessible by stairs located in the entry foyer. Maple Hill residence halls also include significant community space to promote interaction between students. Each suite community of 48 students will have a soft seating study room, a conference style room for group study and a small laundry.   Each pair of communities will also share a large kitchen/den activity space, located in the center of every wing on all floors.

Where: Maple Hill Residence Hall - parking lot of Hotz Hall, west of Garland Ave. on Cleveland St.

Scheduled speakers: Johnetta Cross Brazzell, vice chancellor for Student Affairs; John White, chancellor; Randy Alexander, executive director of housing. Also in attendance: Mike Johnson, associate vice chancellor for UA Facilities Management; Bob Beeler, associate director for design and construction services, UA Facilities Management; Matt Bodishbaugh, vice president, CDI Inc; Eldon Bock, architectural team leader, Witsell Evans Rasco; and Mike Evans, principle, Witsell Evans Rasco.

History of the Topping Out Ceremony: In Scandinavian countries, the evergreen was considered a good spirit. When a building was erected, an evergreen was placed on the highest point of the structure to ward off evil spirits. In the 19th century, as the people of northern Europe came to America, they brought with them not only their construction skills but also their customs, in particular, the topping out of new buildings with the evergreen tree. Even though the meaning has changed somewhat, CDI Construction continues this tradition to celebrate the completion of the most arduous phase of construction and to symbolize their thanksgiving for a safe project.

Photo and Interview Opportunities: A steel beam will be signed by participants during the ceremony, and construction will be stopped for the ceremony. (Hard hats will not be necessary.) The beam will be raised into place by crane and an evergreen tree will be placed on top of the beam.