Stadium Construction Update
Bank of America Stadium renovations remain a work in progress, but the work progressed to a notable moment this week with the "topping off."
"A topping off ceremony comes with the last major piece in steel erection for any kind of building or structure," Turner Construction project engineer Nicholas Longone said. Here, workers secure that final piece, a catwalk that weighs more than 6,000 pounds.
"The iron workers take the last beam, put a pine tree and an American flag and usually some kind of banner with the company name on it and fly it up," Longone explained.
"The tree comes from Norse mythology. When you built a new house using the timbers from the woods, they would then put a live tree on top of the house at the end to signify the new growth and for good luck for the family."
The highest piece in the project rises toward its new home atop the West end zone scoreboard.
Now above the scoreboard, the catwalk is poised to be lowered into place.
"That's a big thing for the guys," Longone said. "We can see the light at the end of the tunnel and know that we're close to finishing."
Still, there's lots of work to be done with the July 1 deadline looming. Here, the truss atop the East scoreboard begins to take shape...
...and here's how it looks with all the letters in place.
This view gives perspective on the scope of the scoreboard, which runs the length of five-plus seating sections.
Day by day, the goal is being reached.
