MidtownCoog Posted December 7, 2006 Share Posted December 7, 2006 What's the symbolism behind putting what looks like a Christmas tree on top of a building after they frame it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UrbaNerd Posted December 7, 2006 Share Posted December 7, 2006 I've seen that, too! In Midtown last year, I remember seeing a small tree on top of the new wing of the Houston tech. center. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted December 7, 2006 Share Posted December 7, 2006 According to an article by John V. Robinson:The custom of decorating the uppermost point of the structure with an evergreen tree is a tradition that predates the structural-steel industry in America by hundreds of years and has old Northern European roots. Although the topping out tree has ancient roots there is no consensus among modern ironworkers as to what exactly the tree symbolizes, or when and how it came to be used by the ironworkers. According to The Ironworker, the union's official publication, "for some the evergreen tree symbolizes that the job went up without a loss of life, while for others it's a good luck charm for the future occupants"(1984:11). Other accounts attribute the tree as signifying simply that "we [ironworkers] did it" (Kodish, 1989:2).(Western Folklore, Fall 2001 Robinson, John V.)Link to full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted December 7, 2006 Share Posted December 7, 2006 it's the topping out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topping_out downtown cathedral" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonMidtown Posted December 7, 2006 Share Posted December 7, 2006 I noticed the tree at the top of the new building being built at the corner of Montrose and Richmond (behind the gas station) last weekend..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDeb Posted December 7, 2006 Share Posted December 7, 2006 What I've heard from structural engineers is that construction crews do this once the uppermost structural members are added to the building. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PapillionWyngs Posted December 7, 2006 Share Posted December 7, 2006 It is the topping out, as you said. It will get no higher than the tree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted December 7, 2006 Share Posted December 7, 2006 In photos on the bob bailey collection (or something like that) there was an evergeen when the Wells Fargo (then Allied Bank Tower) Plaza was topped off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted December 8, 2006 Author Share Posted December 8, 2006 cool. I kinda knew it was the topping outmy big question is the voodoo behind it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted December 8, 2006 Share Posted December 8, 2006 The custom of decorating the uppermost point of the structure with an evergreen tree is a tradition that predates the structural-steel industry in America by hundreds of years and has old Northern European roots. Although the topping out tree has ancient roots there is no consensus among modern ironworkers as to what exactly the tree symbolizes, or when and how it came to be used by the ironworkers.Vodoo of the EvergreenParagraphs 4,5,& 6 might help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted December 8, 2006 Share Posted December 8, 2006 pure superstition here's a picture (really horrible resolution) of the one at montrose and richmond: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mls1202 Posted December 8, 2006 Share Posted December 8, 2006 pure superstitionhere's a picture (really horrible resolution) of the one at montrose and richmond: I must have missed the information about this building. Can anyone tell me what is going up here or direct me to a thread where this is discussed? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ENGcons Posted December 8, 2006 Share Posted December 8, 2006 It is merely a traditional thing that signifies the topping out of a building. Which simply means that is the top of the building. On major projects it is accompanied by a party of some sort for the crew, and others involved. It is a major milestone in the Construction of a project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted December 9, 2006 Author Share Posted December 9, 2006 thanks for all the replieshere's hoping to many more as we move into 2007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted December 14, 2006 Share Posted December 14, 2006 thought this was interesting... bob bailey photos from the topping out of the allied bank tower (wells fargo) http://www.cah.utexas.edu/db/dmr/image_lg....iable=e_bb_2874 http://www.cah.utexas.edu/db/dmr/image_lg....iable=e_bb_2881 http://www.cah.utexas.edu/db/dmr/image_lg....iable=e_bb_2889 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pumapayam Posted December 14, 2006 Share Posted December 14, 2006 thought this was interesting...bob bailey photos from the topping out of the allied bank tower (wells fargo)Sevfiv, you are a little research aficionado, nice job with the pictures. I am surprised one of those has not shown up in a large frame to be sold at IKEA.It would be a nice center piece that would make for interesting ice-breakers at parties. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 thought this was interesting...bob bailey photos from the topping out of the allied bank tower (wells fargo) Those are great photos. Good to know that they are safe in Austin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 Those are great photos. Good to know that they are safe in Austin. yeah, it was disappointing that there was nowhere in houston that had the right (and enough) resources to step up to the plate and care for them. seems a little hard to believe, but money is apparently better spent elsewhere Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 Something to put on the checklist for becoming a great city: stop being provincial as far as research matters go. Chicago's libraries contain unique research material pertaining to the entire globe. Houston can't even keep track of itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.