I am frequently asked to photograph “topping out” events for various stakeholders in the construction industry.
On this occasion, I was invited to document the topping out of a mid-construction educational facility at Wentworth Point.
You might wonder, what is a “topping out”? According to Wikipedia, it is a practice that may have originated in ancient Scandinavia as a religious rite, where a tree was placed atop a new building to appease the tree-dwelling spirits displaced during construction. The tree also served a practical purpose: when the pine needles fell to the ground, it signaled to the builders that their timber frame had cured or dried.
Today, a “topping out” event is organized by the builder, inviting partners and associates involved in the project to a ceremony that marks the completion of the final level, signifying that the structure is finished.
At the event I covered for Roberts & Co., a large potted tree was craned onto the roof of the building, speeches were made, and group photos were taken. I learned that the tree does not remain on the roof; after the event, it is craned back down and planted somewhere nearby.