July 16 marked a pivotal moment in construction of the UK Cancer and Advanced Ambulatory Building as University of Kentucky leadership, state leaders and Walsh Construction hosted a ceremonial “topping out” celebration. The 550,000-square-foot facility will become the new home to the UK Markey Cancer Center, Kentucky’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, as well as a Comprehensive Spine Center, ambulatory surgery space and other outpatient services.
“The topping out ceremony is usually held when the final piece of steel goes onto the building, which is usually the halfway point of the construction. It is figuratively the peak of the hill climb,” said Raymond Haunsz, capital construction manager senior in Facilities Management’s Planning, Design, and Construction team. “While there is much left to do, we can see the building’s overall shape and can begin to visualize the final product. At this point, we shift from heavy structural work such as steel, foundations and concrete, and transition to fit-out work such as ductwork, wiring, drywall, flooring and paint.”
Haunsz began working on the project five years ago and is guiding the initiative from design through construction with the assistance of many in Facilities Management and across UK HealthCare, including Kevin Locke, Wayne Thomas, Denise Cooper and Corey Thomas.
“Many may not realize that the design, planning and prep work for a project of this size takes as long as the physical construction,” he said.
Construction of the Cancer and Advanced Ambulatory Building and accompanying garage has logged more than 500,000 work hours while averaging 600 workers on site daily.
The ceremony is a symbolic milestone that celebrates the building’s progress and the hard work put in by the construction and design teams. Faculty, clinicians and staff from the programs that will call the building home had the chance to sign the beam before it was raised into place.
“Milestones like this give us a chance to acknowledge the people who made it possible: Our construction crews, engineers, architects, project managers, and every single person who’s worked through early mornings, late nights and all kinds of weather to keep us on track,” said Eric Radloff, The Walsh Group vice president and business group leader for healthcare.
Learn more about the building and topping out ceremony.
Wayne Thomas, capital construction director, Barry Swanson, acting vice president of Facilities Management, and Raymon Haunsz, capital construction manager senior, sign the beam for the UK Cancer and Advanced Ambulatory Building topping out ceremony. The ceremony is a symbolic milestone that celebrates the building’s progress and the hard work put in by the construction and design teams.
Jennifer T. Allen
Wayne Thomas, capital construction director, signs the beam for the UK Cancer and Advanced Ambulatory Building's topping out ceremony.
Barry Swanson, acting vice president of Facilities Management, signs the beam for the UK Cancer and Advanced Ambulatory Building topping out ceremony.
Raymon Haunsz, capital construction manager senior, signs the beam for the UK Cancer and Advanced Ambulatory Building topping out ceremony. Haunsz began working on the project five years ago and is guiding the initiative from design through construction.
Wayne Thomas, capital construction director, Barry Swanson, acting vice president of Facilities Management, and Raymon Haunsz, capital construction manager senior, sign the beam for the UK Cancer and Advanced Ambulatory Building topping out ceremony.
The topping out ceremony is usually held when the final piece of steel goes onto the building, which is usually the halfway point of the construction. The ceremony is a symbolic milestone that celebrates the building’s progress and the hard work put in by the construction and design teams. The Scandinavian tradition of hoisting a tree to the top of the building served a functional purpose. After the needles had fallen off the tree, the builders knew the wood frame had dried out and they could enclose the building.
UK Photo | Mark Cornelison
The raising of the signed beam at the Cancer and Advanced Ambulatory Building on July 16.
Eric Radloff, The Walsh Group vice president and business group leader for healthcare, addressed the crowd before the topping out ceremony.
UK President Eli Capilouto spoke at the UK Cancer and Advanced Ambulatory Building topping out ceremony.