Photos by Sheri Waldrop
On a blustery Friday morning, Sapulpa Public Schools celebrated a major milestone with a traditional “topping out” ceremony at the district’s new high school, currently under construction.
The ceremony brought together project partners, including Nabholz Construction Corporation, Reed Architecture and Interiors, DLR Group of Kansas City, and Bennett Steel of Sapulpa, along with community members, alumni, and Sapulpa Public Schools Board of Education members.
As part of the longstanding construction tradition, attendees signed the final beam before it was hoisted into place atop the structure.
Superintendent Rob Armstrong highlighted the significance of the moment.
“Today marks a very important milestone. Not just in the structure of a building but in the future of our students and our community,” said Mr. Armstrong.
Following the ceremony, attendees signed the beam before it was lifted into its final position atop the structure.
Armstrong spoke with Sapulpa Times after the beam was attached and described the feeling as “overwhelmed.”
“Just really overwhelmed with the excitement and enthusiasm that there is generally for our community,” he said.
“This is just a small part of what’s happening in Sapulpa,” he said. “There are so many new things happening. There’s an energy, and a lot of positive things, and we’re just glad to be a part of it.”
Armstrong reiterated the longterm goal of the new campus is to show Sapulpa Schools’ investment into its educational programs in area.
“We want to develop this school system in the region, and this will help us reset that with the new space, new excitement, and new opportunities for kids,” Armstrong said.
Armstrong said it was the first time he’d been a part of a topping ceremony. He was able to share knowledge of some of the symbolism of the occasion, including the evergreen tree branch that was attached to the beam. “The highest piece of steel doesn’t complete the structure, but at least this is the framework for the rest of the building.”
“The evergreen tree is actually a European tradition that was started years ago. Whenever they completed a cathedral or a castle, they would top it off with that.” Traditionally, the evergreen is a symbolic gesture of thanks to the earth for providing the materials to build the structure, and is supposed to bring good luck to the building and its occupants.
The new Sapulpa High School is the largest project funded by the Chieftain Stronger Bond issue, approved by voters in the fall of 2023. The topping out ceremony symbolizes both the completion of the building’s structural framework and recognition of the workers who made it possible.
The new Sapulpa High School is scheduled for completion in mid-2027.
For more information about Sapulpa Public Schools and the Chieftain Stronger bond package, visit sapulpaps.org/Bond2023.
