[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/engflag.jpg” caption=”David Wilkinson (left), dean of Engineering, holds the Fireball flag with Paul Charette, president and CEO of Bird Construction, during the topping off ceremony celebrating the structural completion of the new engineering building. Photo by Susan Bubak.”]A topping off ceremony was held today to celebrate the structural completion of the new engineering building now under construction at McMaster University.

Construction and trades people were joined by representatives from Bird Construction, McMaster's Facility Services, Vermeulen/Hind Architects, the Faculty of Engineering and University officials to celebrate the traditional construction milestone.

Some 55 construction and trades people have been involved in the concrete forming, mechanical and electrical portion of the project to date. A finishing crew of more than 100 will start moving in to begin work on the exterior and interior of the building. Completion of the building is expected in late Spring 2009.

The five-storey, 125,000-square-foot (11,670-square-metre) facility will provide much needed space for both teaching and research. It is located near the campus's Main Street entrance.

Moving into the new building will be the School of Biomedical Engineering, the Walter G. Booth School of Engineering Practice, research centres, Engineering 1 (the Faculty's first-year engineering program) and the McMaster-Mohawk Bachelor of Technology Partnership. Teaching studios, tutorial rooms, study space and classrooms will support recent initiatives enhancing the first-year undergraduate experience.

The building is registered with LEED Canada for environmental certification. Design of the building also allows it to be used as a teaching tool related to engineering, construction and sustainability issues.