Today we had the "topping off" ceremony for the new medical center. For those who haven't seen this before, it involves the raising of the final beam to signify the steel structure is finished. The beam is painted white, and is signed by those invited to do so. That's generally the owner, the developer, often the contractors, and dignitaries who are invited to the ceremony. (When Beaumont finished their south tower in Royal Oak, the beam was left in front of the hospital for about a week, so that any employees who wanted to - including yours truly - could sign it)
Then a tree is palced on top of the building. I never did understand the significance of that part, but my research tells me it dates back to a Scandanavian religious practice of placing a tree on top of a wooden structure to appease the spirits of the tree-dwelling ancestors that had been displaced. (Huh??)
What this whole ceremony means to me is that I will be in a new office in a year or so. Now that's progress!
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