News & Insights
Photo courtesy of: Greg Land
Summer is milestone season for school and campus construction
Every building has a story. It begins with a groundbreaking, reaches a major milestone with a topping-out, and culminates in the moment everyone has been waiting for: the ribbon-cutting. This summer, B&D had the privilege of celebrating all three milestones alongside our clients.
Every great project begins with the ceremonial first shovel in the ground.
In June, Oakland Unified School District celebrated groundbreaking ceremonies for officially launching construction on two transformative campus modernization projects. The projects follow the district’s successful bond sale and refinancing strategy, which will help fund critical improvements while saving taxpayers nearly $8.5 million. B&D’s Communications & Public Engagement (CPE) team partnered with the district to help bring the groundbreaking celebrations to life.
Meanwhile, farther north, Geyserville Elementary broke ground on their new playground, creating an outdoor space and is a reminder that every investment in student matters.
B&D is proud to serve as program managers on these projects.
Fast forward a few months, or sometimes a few years, and construction reaches one of its most meaningful traditions: the topping-out ceremony.
This month, Monterey Peninsula College celebrated the topping-out of its new Music Building as the final structural steel beam was signed and lifted into place. Dating back centuries, topping-out ceremonies recognize the completion of a building’s structural frame while honoring the skilled tradespeople whose craftsmanship makes these projects possible.
The Music Building is part of Monterey Peninsula College’s broader Measure V bond, where B&D serves as program manager, helping guide the transformation of the college’s campus from vision to reality.
The journey ends where students, faculty, and the community finally get to experience the finished result.
Also in June, Prince George’s County Public Schools celebrated the ribbon-cutting for Phase 1 of the new Suitland High School opening the doors to a state-of-the-art campus designed to support the next generation of learners. Our CPE team partnered with the district to plan and deliver the celebration, helping commemorate the successful completion of years of planning, design, and construction.
Groundbreakings. Topping-outs. Ribbon-cuttings.
They happen at different points in every project’s journey, but they all celebrate the same thing: progress. Each milestone represents another step toward creating places where students can learn, educators can teach, and communities can thrive.
Congratulations to our clients and project teams on these exciting milestones. We look forward to celebrating many more in the months ahead.
Photos courtesy of MPC, OUSD and PGCPS
