Raising the Roof

It was a festive atmosphere at Elkhart General on May 15 as associates gathered to celebrate a milestone in the $74 million expansion of the Surgery Department. The completion of the steel construction phase was commemorated by a Topping Off Ceremony—placing the final steel beam in place. This last beam was the same beam signed in December 2013 at the beginning of construction during the Skybreaking Ceremony.

In Topping Off ceremony tradition, Power Construction crew members secured a pine tree and a flag to the beam prior to raising. This tradition dates back to the ancient Scandinavians, where placing a tree at the highest point of a new building was believed to appease the spirits. In the U.S., the pine tree represents growth while the flag represents American pride. Don’t forget—you can watch the ongoing construction of the massive expansion by visiting http://www.egh.org/webcam. 

Elkhart General associates signed a steel beam at the Topping Off Ceremony.