Topping out ceremony at UHCL’s new STEM facility

University of Houston-Clear Lake officials sign their names on the last beam to be placed on the university’s $65.7 million STEM and Classroom Building in a “topping out” ceremony celebrating the completion of the structural concrete-and-steel portion of the project which began in April. Shown are interim Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost A. Glen Houston, interim Vice President for Administration and Finance Jean Carr, Associate Vice President for University Advancement Rhonda Thompson, UHCL President Ira K. Blake and Associate Vice President of Facilities Ward Martaindale who are adding their signatures to the steel beam that will support the building’s skyway.

Carrying on a centuries-old tradition, faculty and staff and community supporters joined crews of contractors, engineers, architects and construction workers for a celebratory lunch under the beams of the new building’s entryway. President Blake, center, is flanked by UHCL alumni and longtime supporters Kathy Tamer and Michael Squyres, who are also co-chair and chair of the College of Science and Engineering Dean's  Advisory Board, respectively.

Tellepsen Builders, the general contractor on the project, hosted the event.​ Shown with Martaindale and Blake is Project Executive Sam Hopkins. Set to open in the fall of 2018, the 121,575 square-foot facility will feature classrooms for science, technology, engineering and math as well as 15 teaching labs for mechanical engineering, physics, chemistry, geology, industrial hygiene and environmental safety. Also included are faculty offices and 13 faculty research labs. Other rooms are being built for mechanical engineering projects, computer-aided drafting and 3-D printing. Also planned is an astronomy observation deck, a 30-seat computer lab and a 100-seat tiered lecture hall.