A traditional 'Topping Out Ceremony' celebrated a major construction milestone for Macquarie University's new Engineering and Australian Astronomical Optics building this month.
12 Nov 2024
Engineering Building milestone marked with Topping Out Ceremony
Macquarie University celebrated a significant construction milestone this week with a traditional topping out ceremony for its new Engineering and Australian Astronomical Optics building.
After more than a year of construction, the event celebrated the end of the building’s major structural phase, with the final concrete works (including the final major pour for Level 5) now complete.
The building will now move into the next phase which involves the fit-out and façade works. Façade panels will be delivered over the next month, and the building is on track for a mid-2025 completion.
The ‘topping out’ event, hosted by FDC Construction, opened with a smoking ceremony from Dharug elder Uncle Christopher Tobin and an Acknowledgement of Country paying respect to the Wallumattagal people, the traditional custodians of the land on which the building stands.
Professor Lucy Marshall, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering served as Master of Ceremony for the event, which featured speeches from Vice-Chancellor Professor S Bruce Dowton, Peter Blood from FDC Construction and Ali Johnston from architects Woods Bagot.
Also attending the ceremony were Executive Director of Property Juliette Churchill, Director of Project Management Geoff Warren, Vice-President Finance and Resources Robin Payne, and senior representatives from FDC Construction and project consultants.
The ceremony included the symbolic placement of a Kanooka (water gum) tree at the building’s highest point, a water blessing by elder Uncle Chris Tobin and the trowelling of ceremonial concrete by the Vice Chancellor and Executive Dean, the FDC and architect teams and a number of other guests.
Following the formal proceedings, which took place on the building site, at 7 Wally’s Walk, guests gathered at the University Bar for a celebration of the milestone.
When complete in August 2025, the new building will host specialised teaching and research spaces across five levels, supporting Macquarie's new project-based engineering curriculum.
