I was walking to work on Monday and I met up with someone from work, who pointed out that the building we were passing by, had been topped off. So when we were able to see the building better, I did find that sitting on the very top of it, was this tree and a beam painted in bright colors. For any who do not know this, when a building has reached the end of the steel phase, they traditionally place a tree up at the top and have a topping off ceremony. In the case of this building, I am glad to see we are finally done with the steel and will begin closing it in. For some reason, it feels like it has taken forever to get to this point, but that might be because it is the 4th structure in a row, that they have built on their campus.
Rewinding back 10 years ago...to early 1998.
That was when we built the building I work in now. I don't remember a tree, but I vividly remember that we signed a beam. The building was placed over our old parking lot (we had built a parking structure first and then this new building) and I got a kick out of the fact that the beam was raised right above my old parking spot (good old space 146). This was the parking spot I was parked in, the day the utility building directly adjacent to that space, caught fire and almost burned down my car and place of business...but that's a story for another day. :-)
Last night, I dug through my old pictures and yes, I did indeed take a few of the steel structure with the signed beam attached. I really had to blow up the scan to see them at all, but on the 2nd beam from the corner, on the top of the structure, you can see that there are smuges of color that represent signatures on it. (As usual, click the picture itself, for a bigger image.)
As I go about my day, I think about it once in a while and smile. A small part of me will remain...long after I am gone from my workplace. I kind of like that thought.
I posted the link to this picture and the post itself, at my workplace. I received several comments and I would like to leave them here, as a record. Especially since my email eventually leaves my in-box.
ReplyDeleteIn regard to the third message, I want to add that she has great taste. :-)
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I remember it well, the excitement, the celebration of having a brand new building, and through the dust and hard-hats, we were all anxious to leave our mark on that beam....yes, I remember it well. You're truly an angel to remind us that when it's our time to leave, we left a little history behind. Thanks for that great article!
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Thanks. I signed it so this made me feel great. A part of history. I am glad to know where it landed!
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Thanks for sharing the photo -- but I especially liked the ones of your son!