SBA Celebrates "Topping Out" with BBQ Party

February 15, 2012

Event Info

The Student Builders Association will sponsor a "Topping Out Barbecue Party" 4 – 7 p.m. Thursday, March 1, at the Charles R. Perry Construction Institute (Building O). The event will be catered by Cowboyz, and the menu includes pulled pork, chicken, baked beans, coleslaw, dinner roll and iced tea. Tickets are $10 and are available from any SBA member or in the main office of Building O. Contact Carol Pugh for more information.

History of the "Topping Out" Ceremony

In building construction, the "Topping Out" ceremony is held when the roof of the building is complete. It's roots travel back many years to Europe. Folklore proclaims it is for shelters being constructed of wood. Before cutting the first tree, the builders would formally address the forest, reminding it of the consideration and respect they had toward the trees, and ask the forest to grant use of a tree for construction fo their home. When the house was complete, the topmost leafy branch of that tree would be set atop the roof so that the "tree spirit" would not be rendered homeless. The gesture was to further convince the "tree spirit" of the sincere appreciation of the people building the home in hopes that those living or working in the dwelling would flourish.