I am very happy to be a part of this 'topping out' ceremony. Although I went to undergraduate school on a scholarship from a steel fabricator, and spent two years working in the steel fabrication industry, I have never had the privilege of being at a 'topping out' ceremony. The tradition carried on by such a ceremony is an important one that needs to be kept up for it gives us a chance to celebrate the hard work, skill, and courage of those who build the great structures that we all admire and benefit from. Engineering at Brown is very proud of the new undergraduate laboratory facility that is being built here. We greatly appreciate all that so many have done, and are doing, to provide a facility that will greatly enhance the teaching of engineering at Brown.
Engineering students learn from doing.
They are quantitative, creative people who need to test their understanding, and explore their ideas of how to build the machines and systems for a better tomorrow. Today we give special recognition to the construction workers, and their supervisors, for they are the ones who finally turn dreams into reality. Paul Dietel has done an outstanding job as the Project Manager, steering this project along a prudent course that ensures a high quality facility while taking advantage of whatever savings are possible. Paul has had the able support of many others in Facilities Management. Acting Associate Vice President for Facilities Management who replaced Dorothy Renaghan when she retired in December.