As the final beam was hoisted into place for the new East Campus Housing (ECH), a “topping off” ceremony was held on site this week.
Students, faculty, construction workers and many individuals involved in the design of the plans participated in the milestone ceremony Tuesday.
“This is a cause for celebration,” Binghamton University President Lois DeFleur said. “This building will be ready for students next fall … Alumni can come back soon and see the strongest traditions in brand-new facilities.”
Brian Rose, vice president for student affairs, said ECH will “retain and strengthen attributes of Newing [College] and Dickinson [Community] that have been apart of our [the University’s] success.”
The site will be enclosed by the end of March and will house 341 students in the fall, which DeFleur says will “increase the number of residential beds on campus.”
The final beam that was hoisted into place was covered in signatures and messages scrawled in colored marker by many workers, students and faculty.
“The beam was on display in Newing Dining Hall for a week, available to any one who wanted to sign,” said Physical Facilities spokeswoman Karen Fennie.
David Frazier, a sophomore living in Newing’s Broome Hall, signed the beam.
“It is nice to be a part of history,” he said. “It’s exciting to see this campus moving forward.”
Frazier said he wrote, “Dave was here ‘09”
Keeping with an ancient construction tradition, a small tree was placed on top of the structure. Dating back to when most buildings were made of wood, the tree was originally meant to appease the tree-dwelling spirits that have been displaced; this custom has endured.
Jim Parkson of the Dorm Authority of the State of New York said the ceremony was special for him.
“I have been here since day one,” he said. “[This building] was a big effort taken by an incredible amount of people.”