From left, Dr. Arnold Strauss, Monroe Carell Jr., Mayor Bill Purcell, and Dr. Harry R. Jacobson sign the beam at the topping out ceremony on Wednesday. (photo by Dana Johnson)
Children’s Hospital milestone celebrated
Katherine Denney signs the beam along with the construction workers and guests at the event. The new hospital is expected to open in 2003. (photo by Dana Johnson)
Dr. Harry R. Jacobson takes a ride on the beam before it is hoisted to the top of the new hospital. (photo by Dana Johnson)
Dr. Jayant Deshpande, professor of Pediatrics, was among the crowd attending the topping out ceremony Wednesday. (photo by Dana Johnson)
Monroe Carell Jr. talks with guests as Martha Ingram, Dr. Pat Temple, and Dr. Steven Gabbe add their autographs to the ceremonial beam. (photo by Anne Rayner Pollo)
Medical Center and community leaders gathered with hundreds of celebrants Wednesday for the event observing the topping out of the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. The traditional ceremony commemorated the highest structural element of the new hospital being put into place and also marked the two-year anniversary of the groundbreaking for the new facility.
The hospital is scheduled for completion next year.
Among the leaders on hand for the event were Dr. Harry R. Jacobson, vice chancellor for Health Affairs, Dr. Arnold W. Strauss, James C. Overall Professor and Chair of Pediatrics, Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell, Monroe Carell Jr., and Charter Construction foreman Richard Wilson.
As the 11-story hospital shadowed the crowd on the top floor of the Capers Garage, Jacobson expressed appreciation to Carell, whose “tenacity, generosity, and devotion to the well being of children” made the building possible.
Carell, chairman and chief executive officer of Central Parking System and a member of the Vanderbilt University Board of Trust since 1991, is leading the fund-raising effort for Children’s Hospital. He provided the lead gift in the 1999 fund-raising campaign.
“This hospital will enhance opportunities for the children of Nashville and surrounding counties,” said Carell, who also thanked the construction crews for their hard work.
Strauss reiterated gratitude to the men and women of the construction team and also said the work they had done will directly allow the doctors and nurses of the new hospital to do their jobs.
“We want to be able to take care of every child in the state of Tennessee,” said Strauss, medical director of Children’s Hospital. “As a result of this hospital, kids in Tennessee and elsewhere will benefit for years to come.”
Jacobson also spoke of the effort and dedication of numerous individuals who worked together to make the new structure a reality.
“Literally thousands of people have worked to make this day possible,” Jacobson said. “We plan to thank one part of that group of thousands today and that is the men and women who have worked so hard to add this new silhouette to the Nashville skyline.”
In his remarks, Purcell noted that all the great cities of the world have hospitals dedicated to the care of children and that the generosity of Nashvillians and Monroe Carell was making the new hospital a reality.
Purcell described the topping out as a great day and included the groundbreaking as another great day, but noted that there are more important days to come.
“I look forward to the first day a healed child leaves this new hospital,” Purcell said. “That will truly be a great day.”
In closing, Purcell recognized the construction team and thanked them.
“These workers know all about Children’s Hospital, about who is cared for here and how this building can make a difference for children and their families,” Purcell said. “This project has been a calling for them just as it will be for the doctors and nurses who will begin work here in 18 months.”
Wilson, the foreman of the team responsible for pouring the concrete, noted that the key to the success of the construction was “teamwork, dedication, and good leadership.”
Wilson added that the project was particularly important to his team because they recognized the impact the hospital would have on children’s lives.
“This is something we can all be proud of when we go home,” said Wilson.
Following the remarks, a special steel beam was hoisted to the top of the building. Prior to being lifted into place, the beam was signed by staff, patients, families, construction crews, and donors.
Topping out ceremonies are rooted in folklore when builders conducted various rituals to rid a building of evil spirits that attached themselves to the framework of the building during construction. The ceremonies that took place in ancient Europe bear a close resemblance to the celebrations held today.
Neighbors assisted each other in the construction of their homes, including the installation of a ridgepole, the highest horizontal timber in a roof against which the upper ends of the rafters are fixed. Once the ridgepole was in place, all work stopped and an evergreen tree was attached to the top of the pole to announce that a completion party was about to commence.
It is believed that topping out celebrations were brought to America by immigrants who became the country’s contractors and steelworkers. Over the years, the practice has become an important and symbolic event in the construction of any major building.
In keeping with tradition, an evergreen tree will be placed atop the new hospital. It will join a large American flag that has already been raised.
The Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt will be the only freestanding children’s hospital in the Middle Tennessee region. The new hospital, in addition to consolidating pediatric services under one roof, will have an increased capacity for inpatient, outpatient, NICU and PCCU patients and expanded family spaces, education and playroom capabilities.
“We’re here to celebrate a job well done,” Carell said. “We should all be pleased and proud to be a part of this important project.”