Ceremony held for Cal U building as last truss placed
CALIFORNIA – The final steel truss was hoisted into place Tuesday for the new convocation center at California University of Pennsylvania. “This is an exciting day. Quite literally and figuratively, Cal U is reaching new heights,” said Dr. Angelo Armenti Jr., president of California University of Pennsylvania.
Construction began on the convocation center about a year ago, and Armenti said there is still another year of work to go before the structure is complete.
The ceremony Tuesday morning included several traditions. Before it was lifted into place Armenti signed the final piece of steel, as did Cliff Rowe, the CEO of PJ Dick, the construction manager for the project; Rich Neubauer of the Whiting-Turner Contracting Co., the general contrtactor; and Wayne Tarvin of L. Robert Kimball and Associates, the architect for the project.
Prior to the ceremony, all of the ironworkers who have worked on the project also signed the beam, as is the tradition in the industry.
“They have good reason to be proud. They’ve put 45 trusses into place so far. This last one is number 46. Each two-piece truss is a total of 198 feet in length and they end up about six stories, or 72 feet, off the ground,” Armenti said.
It was one of several traditions adhered to for the topping out ceremony.
“It’s traditional to raise an American flag with the last piece of steel, along with an evergreen tree and a new broom,” Armenti said.
The tree represents growth and longevity and the broom represents a clean sweep, Armenti said. The university added several other elements that were hung from the final beam: a cap and gown, Vulcan basketball and volleyball jerseys and a shirt and tie.
Armenti said the items represent the future uses of the new building: commencements, athletic events and executive conferencing services.
“The shirt and tie represent that new initiative,” Armenti said. “Business people throughout the region are looking forward to using this center and its high-tech equipment for conferences, training sessions and similar events.”
The new convocation center replaces Hamer Hall, which was built in the 1960s. Leo Krantz, chairman of the university’s board of trustees, said the building projects at the university over the past 10 years have set the groundwork for the future.
“It’s one of those milestones that’s going to be around for the next 100 years,” Krantz said.
Krantz said Armenti came to Cal U 19 years ago with a vision that he put into action and which is now coming to fruition.
Armenti said that between 300 and 400 people have worked on the $54 million convocation center. Funding for the project came from a $23 million bond issue, $19.1 million in state funding and $11.9 million in university and private fundraising.