The VCU College of Engineering will hold a “topping off” ceremony to mark a milestone in the construction of its new Engineering Research Building on Tuesday, Oct. 15, at 9 a.m. Topping off is a traditional celebration that occurs when a final beam is placed on top of a building under construction. 

VCU Engineering’s topping off event will begin in the Qimonda Atrium of Engineering East Hall (401 W. Main St.) and conclude at the southeast corner of Belvidere and Cary Streets (near Starbucks, 375 W. Cary St.). It will feature remarks by Barbara D. Boyan, Ph.D., the Alice T. and William H. Goodwin, Jr. Dean of the VCU College of Engineering and VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D. 

The 133,000-square-foot building will significantly expand VCU Engineering’s lab capacity to support advanced research efforts in mechanical and nuclear engineering, computer science and biomedical engineering. Its first floor will have a 9,000-square-foot makerspace for hands-on, collaborative design-and-build projects. The Engineering Research Building is slated to open in late 2020.

A final beam will be on display in the Qimonda Atrium on Monday, October 14. Students, staff and faculty members are encouraged to sign their names to the beam.