A Topping Out for All
By Alex Housden, Development Manager at MEPC
The Topping Out events to mark reaching the maximum height of our newest commercial building, Three Chamberlain Square, over the past week allowed us the rare opportunity to invite hundreds of guests to see progress at the site for themselves.
Not only could we show our visitors exactly where we’re at with this two year plus build programme, but underline what amazing features lie behind this new landmark for the city.
As well as its expansive ground floor space facing the splendour of the Town Hall, organic look and feel and inside-outside ethos, the building offers natural connections between floors and amazing views for everyone who will work within it.
Topping Out events have a long history with pine saplings often planted to commemorate a building reaching its highest point. Originally a Scandinavian tradition in pagan times to mark the completion of timber buildings, the idea was to ‘bless’ the building and help protect it from local spirits who may have been annoyed at being disturbed by the construction activity.
The tradition spread to other parts of Europe and eventually to parts of Asia and the United States which famously has ‘final beam’ ceremonies for skyscrapers. In the UK, the tradition has been kept alive for centuries and is still applied now in the 21st century, especially with large commercial or residential buildings which are home to many people.
At Three Chamberlain Square, the ten storey, 189,000 sq ft building will be a work home for several thousand people, so wishing those who will inhabit it ‘good luck’ is an entirely appropriate start to the building’s life.
Over the past week we’ve been lucky enough to host six individual events, all contributing to a great milestone in the life of this highly sustainable and unique new commercial building.
The main contractor working on Three Chamberlain Square, Sir Robert McAlpine, had its own twists on the ceremony with bagpipes marking the company’s Scottish roots, followed by a ‘noggin of ale’ for all those who attended.
As well as the Topping Out, there has been a tour and reception for existing occupiers at Paradise and their staff, a Friends & Family event for staff and the families of those working on the building, a Building Brum event for many active in the region’s construction and development sectors.
In addition to the main topping out ceremony, Paradise also welcomed a group of 50 apprentice level students from South & City College Birmingham for an afternoon site visit, where they learnt about health and safety, sustainability and routes into careers in the construction industry from leaders of the specialist trade contractors working on the project.
So, from industry leaders to local students and colleagues from across Paradise, we have done our very best to involve as many people as we practically could.
As a next-generation commercial building, Three Chamberlain Square is paving the way not just for the final phase of Paradise, but for all commercial buildings in the city.
Next up at Paradise will be the world first, 155-metre, 49 storey Octagon tower – the world’s tallest pure octagonal residential building, which is also topping out later this year.
So, in other words, there’s plenty more to look forward to, and the past week’s celebrations certainly won’t be the last.