Topping Out Ceremony Marks Progress on New Building
One would think the Fullerton College campus is quiet. It has been five months since students and most employees have stepped foot on the historic 83-acre campus. While in fact, significant progress has been made on a new $54 million building, which will be home to the Humanities Division.
Construction workers have been deemed essential workers in the state of California, allowing progress on the 74,927-square-foot building to continue while the majority of the campus is completely closed.
On August 12, a modest Topping Out Ceremony, limited to the BNBuilders construction team due to COVID-19, marked the installation of the last beam on the towering steel-framed structure. It is custom to paint the beam white and let people sign their names before it is hoisted up and fastened into place. Traditionally, a U.S. flag and a tree are perched atop the beam.
The only college employee to attend was Lisa McPheron, director of campus communication
s, so the event could be recorded and shared with the campus community.
“It was a special moment to share with the hardworking team from BNBuilders. Immediately after the beam was installed, they all put their hardhats back on and got back to work. I’m impressed with the scope and skill of their work,” said McPheron.
The building will complement the style of its neighboring historic buildings and is anticipated to open in the summer of 2021. Features include:
- 50 classrooms (including two computer classrooms)
- A dean’s office
- Adjunct faculty area with semi-private space for student conferences
- 37 shared faculty offices
- 73-person conference room, two smaller conference rooms (for eight–12 people)
- Male/female bathrooms on each floor plus two gender-neutral bathrooms per floor
- Lactation room on second floor with seating, power and sink
- Two elevators
- Central courtyard connecting west and south corridors and the large conference room. Courtyard includes raised platform and planters.
- Faculty/staff lounge on first floor plus two faculty/staff services areas
