Topping Out Ceremony

The last steel beam placed is a significant milestone in the evolution of a building project. This milestone is commemorated by painting the beam white and having the staff, campaign donors, steel erection crew, construction team, architects, designers, and other dignitaries sign the beam for posterity.

Well underway in construction on the #NewBruce, we reached this milestone on Wednesday, June 30, and the Bruce Museum staff and guests celebrated this long-standing construction tradition to commemorate the completion of the New Bruce steel structure and the placement of the final steel beam.

Enjoy some scenes from this Topping Out Ceremony. When the New Bruce is completed, the 42,000 addition will expand offerings to the public with new changing galleries, permanent gallery space, a new public entrance lobby, and more. It will cement the Bruce's legacy as a regionally-based, world-class museum merging art, science, and natural history. The building will open directly onto Bruce Park and feature a delicate striated façade of cast stone and glass inspired by Connecticut’s rock quarries.