Topping out

History

The practice of "topping out" a new building can be traced to the ancient Scandinavian religious rite of placing a tree atop a new building to appease the tree-dwelling spirits displaced in its construction. Long an important component of timber frame building, it migrated initially to England and Northern Europe, then to the Americas.

A tree or leafy branch is placed on the topmost wood or iron beam, often with flags and streamers tied to it. A toast is usually drunk and sometimes workers are treated to a meal. In religious context, it is a nod to the completion of construction for Noah’s Ark. In masonry construction the rite celebrates the bedding of the last block or brick.

In some cases a topping out event is held at an intermediate point, such as when the roof is dried-in, which means the roof can provide at least semi-permanent protection from the elements.

The practice remains common in the United Kingdom and assorted Commonwealth countries such as Australia and Canada, as well as Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Iceland, Chile, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary and the Baltic States. In the United States the last beam of a skyscraper is often painted white and signed by all the workers involved. In New Zealand, completion of the roof to a water-proof state is celebrated through a "roof shout", where workers are treated to cake and beer.

The tradition of "pannenbier" (literally "(roof) tile beer" in Dutch) is popular in the Netherlands and Flanders, where a national, regional or city flag is hung once the highest point of a building is reached. It stays in place until the building's owner provides free beer to the workers, after which it is lowered. Since the workers are treated to free beer as long as the flag is raised, the workers are considered greedy if they fly the flag for more than a few days.

Gallery

File:Wiecha.jpg|Topping out (wiecha) in Poland File:Maszt radiowy w Konstantynowie.jpg|The final section of the Warsaw radio mast (in foreground) is decorated and ready to raise File:Kranselag1959.jpg|Topping out in Norway (1959) File:3WTC__Wide_Exterior.jpg Topping out of 3 World Trade Center (2018) File:Construction site of Xibeiwang MIXC with top out banners (20210916165304).jpg|Topping out of Xibeiwang MIXC in Beijing, China with celebration banners (2021) File:Ministru prezidents Valdis Dombrovskis piedalās LNB jaunās ēkas spāru svētkos (5683705288).jpg|Topping out of the National Library of Latvia

Notes

References

• John V. Robinson (2001). "The 'topping out' traditions of the high-steel ironworkers". Western Folklore, Fall 2001.
• "Tree symbolizes campus' growth"; The Daily Cougar; Volume 68, Issue 160, Monday, 28 July 2003; accessed 11 February 2007.

References

1. [https://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/21/realestate/the-hoary-tradition-of-topping-out.html The Hoary Tradition of Topping Out] {{webarchive. link. (2017-01-09 . ''The New York Times'', 21 October 1984.)
2. "CUSSW: News:: History of the 'Topping Out' Ceremony". Columbia University School of Social Work.
3. [https://holderbros.blogspot.com/2008/11/topping-off-frame.html Topping Off the Frame] {{webarchive. link. (2016-03-03 , 26 November 2008.)
4. link. (2009-11-09 , 6 November 2009.)
5. (19 December 2013). "What Is a Tree Doing on Top of That Construction Site?". Slate.
6. "The Telegram".
7. (20 April 2015). "Putting the cherry on top".
8. "Topping Out - A Timber Frame Tradition".