‘Topping Out’ ceremony marks milestone as new science and math building continues to take shap

A milestone in the construction of the Ronald H. and Verna June Meen Center for Science and Math at Tusculum College was celebrated Oct.15 in a “topping out” ceremony.

The ceremony culminated in the placement of two beams at the topmost point of the building. One of the beams was signed during the ceremony by Verna June Meen, who gave a $3.875 million towards the building’s construction and Dr. Nancy B. Moody, president of the college.

Verna June Meen signs the steel beam during the "topping out" ceremony for the new Center for Science and Math.

“These kinds of accomplishments take teams of people to bring about,” said Dr. Nancy B. Moody. “This building will be here for years to come and have an immeasurable impact. What we are doing will change lives.”

Attending the brief ceremony were Tusculum students, faculty, staff and members of the college’s Board of Trustees, as well co-workers of Dr. Ronald H. Meen at Eastman Chemical during his career there.

Attached to the steel beams were steel plates containing signatures of Tusculum students, faculty, staff, alumni and trustees, as well as community members. The plates were available for faculty, staff and trustees to sign at a campus event last week. Students, alumni and community members were able to sign a plate during the Homecoming football game on Oct. 10, and students were provided an opportunity to sign it earlier this week as well.

The beams also contain two quotes. “Sit Lux,” the college’s motto that is part of the Tusculum seal, was painted on the smaller beam. A Latin phrase, it can be translated as “let there be light” or “be the light.”

The larger beam contains the quote, “Join hands and heart in our mission to develop educated citizens distinguished by academic excellence, public service, and qualities of Judeo-Christian character,” from the Rev. Dr. Angus Shaw, a life trustee of the college.

Also affixed to the beam were an American flag and a cedar tree, which reflect long-standing traditions of topping out ceremonies that have their origins in early northern Europe. The placing of the tree on the beam can be traced back to Scandinavia and has come to represent good fortune for the occupants of the building. In America, it also can be traced back to an acknowledgment of a Native American belief that no structure should be taller than a tree.

The placement of the flag is an American tradition that dates back more than a century. When steel framing became popular, the flags were placed to show patriotism, to represent the American dream, to thank American soldiers and to acknowledge a foundational product made in the U.S.A.

The topping beam for the Dr. Ronald H. and Verna June Meen Center for Science and Math at Tusculum College was capped off with a cedar tree and an American flag.

The two beams were placed at the center of the building and provide the framing for one of the architectural design features of the building, an arched entryway. Work continues on the steel framing of the building by the contractors, Rentenbach Constructors Incorporated. Construction on the building began in early May. The construction progress can be viewed on the Tusculum College web site at http://my.tusculum.edu/cam/.

Since the “topping out” ceremony, the building has continued to change rapidly. This week, the majority of the Lecture Hall and its section have the steel work completed.

According to Director of Facilities David Martin, in addition to the steel work, electricians and the plumbers are working on underground rough in on the east side of the building, which includes the main electrical room on the first floor, floor drains and the main sewer and acid waste lines.

Construction is still on schedule for a fall opening of the Ronald H. and Verna June Meen Center for Science and Math on the Tusculum College campus.

“The plumber and HVAC guys have been roughing in overhead on the main and second floors, and next up is drywall for the exterior framing package and exterior walls on third, second and main floors,” said Martin.

The concrete work is expected to be completed by the end of this week, which will allow finishing work to begin simultaneously across the whole building.

The Meen Center for Science and Math will be a four-story structure of approximately 100,000 square feet. Interiors include wings for biology, chemistry, mathematics, computer science and environmental science. There will also be lab space and research areas for both faculty and students.

Construction is still on schedule for a fall opening of the Ronald H. and Verna June Meen Center for Science and Math on the Tusculum College campus.

The ground floor will feature the environmental science wing with a loading dock, as well as large general classroom spaces and classrooms equipped for distance learning programs. A large lecture hall will be included on the ground floor. Space is also allocated to house the bachelor of science degree program in nursing and at least one other graduate level health-related program.

The building’s construction is part of the Tusculum First Campaign, which seeks to provide students with the best possible living and learning communities, innovative and responsive academic programs, and expanded opportunities for students to become engaged as global citizens. For more information on how to contribute to the campaign, contact Heather Patchett, vice president for Institutional Advancement, directly by calling 423-636-7303 or 1-800-729-0256 ext. 5303 or by emailing hpatchett@tusculum.edu.