LPS marks milestone in construction of new high school

Lincoln Public Schools and its construction partners on Friday, July 23 held a symbolic "topping out ceremony" for its new Lincoln Northwest High School currently under construction. The ceremony was held at the southeast corner of the construction site, which is at Northwest Holdredge and North 48th streets.

A topping out ceremony is typically led by a construction project's ironworkers. It celebrates the completion of the skeleton of the building structure or that the building has reached its final height. It’s a symbol of growth and good luck for the remainder of the building project. On Friday, ironworkers placed a small evergreen tree and American flag on a beam after it was lowered into place at the top of what will be the school’s main entrance. The tree signifies completing a project with no worker injuries.

On hand for the event were representatives from Patriot Steel Erection, Hausmann Construction and Clark & Enersen architectural firm, as well as Lincoln Board of Education members Lanny Boswell and Kathy Danek. LPS Associate Superintendent for Business Affairs Liz Standish addressed the crowd on hand.

“The last major steel beam was just placed, which is a celebration, a major milestone,” Standish said. “We are excited. Lincoln Northwest High School is here behind me - and it's going to make a major mark in this area of the community.”

Also in attendance was Cedric Cooper, who previously was the principal at Schoo Middle School and has been named principal at Northwest High School.

“It's surreal to be out on the grounds of our school that's being built,” Cooper said. “This is a moment that I will never forget, and to be able to do this not only with the construction crew, but also with our school district and our board, is special.”

Northwest High School will open in the fall of 2022. This project is being paid for through the 2020 Bond Fund, which voters overwhelmingly approved in February 2020.

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