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The beam and the tree represent one of the construction industry’s oldest customs – the “topping out” of a project to commemorate the benchmark of reaching the building’s maximum height. To discover the origin of the custom, it’s necessary to trace the development of human shelter.
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San Diego Community College District
PROPOSITIONS S & N PROJECT FACT SHEET
History of the “Topping Out” Ceremony
The beam and the tree represent one of the construction industry’s oldest customs – the “topping out” of a project to
commemorate the benchmark of reaching the building’s maximum height. To discover the origin of the custom, it’s
necessary to trace the development of human shelter.
At one time, Europe was covered with a vast forest. Those who inhabited the forest were
dependent on trees for their survival. The full, low‐hanging boughs provided shelter, the
nuts and fruits furnished food, and the fallen dead wood supplied kindling for fires.
Because of this great dependence on the forest, people began to revere trees. In fact,
trees were the most common deity in Europe prior to the adoption of Christianity.
Scandinavian mythology suggests that humans originated from
trees and our souls returned to the trees after death, giving
each tree a spirit of its own.
Humans began constructing their shelter with wood. Before
cutting a tree, they would formally address the forest, reminding
it of the consideration they had always shown toward the trees,
and asking the forest to grant the use of a tree for construction of
their home. When the house was complete, the topmost leafy
branch of the tree used would be set atop the roof so that the
tree spirit would not be rendered homeless. The gesture was
supposed to convince the tree spirit of the sincere appreciation of
those building the home.
As time passed, the early conception of tree worship gradually changed. The
individual tree spirits merged into a single forest god who could pass freely
from tree to tree. Tress were no longer placed atop the home to appease
spirits, but rather to enlist the blessings of the forest god. The three branches
on top of the home ensured fertility of the land and the home.
The custom of placing a tree on a completed structure came with immigrants to
the United States and became an integral part of American culture in
barnaisings and housewarmings.
Today, the custom is used most frequently on completed structures such as
bridges, skyscrapers and other large buildings. Ironworkers have carried on
the topping out tradition and consider it their own. While others join the
celebration of topping out, it is the ironworkers who are the first to reach
the pinnacle of the structure, and it is around this group of workers
that topping out revolves.
Source: The Ironworker, published by the International Association of Bridge, Structural, and Ornamental Ironworkers, Washington DC. See topping out
video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkPou7VmioE&context=C4ac9051ADvjVQa1PpcFNGoDz7UA9d5XTB1ZprLwH6lUEmTyI9ndU=
San Diego Community College District • 3375 Camino Del Rio South • San Diego, CA 92108Phone: 619.338.6546 • Fax: 619.338.6509 • http://public.sdccdprops‐n.com/Pages/sdccd.aspx
San Diego Community College District • 3375 Camino Del Rio South • San Diego, CA 92108Phone: 619.338.6546 • Fax: 619.338.6509 • www.public.sdccdprops‐n.com
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