Carnegie Mellon University

topping off ceremony

November 19, 2018

CMU Holds Topping Off Ceremony for ANSYS Hall

New building will expand College of Engineering’s maker ecosystem

By Bruce Gerson

Jason Maderer
  • Marketing & Communications
  • 412-268-2900

Carnegie Mellon University celebrated completion of the structural phase of construction for ANSYS Hall today (Nov. 19) with a traditional “topping off” ceremony, as the final two beams were mounted onto what will be the new hub for the College of Engineering’s undergraduate program.

The four-story, 36,000 square-foot facility, made possible by a generous gift from ANSYS, will expand the College of Engineering’s maker ecosystem, providing cutting-edge computational, prototyping and simulation tools that will inspire innovation and creative problem-solving. The building will include a large, high bay space where students will assemble full-scale projects and prototypes. Other features include collaboration areas, conference rooms, undergraduate lab spaces, training and lecture space, and office space.

“This is an exciting day for the university and especially for the College of Engineering,” said James Garrett, Jr., dean of the College of Engineering who was recently named university provost, effective Jan. 1. “I would like to extend my profound thanks to ANYS for their generosity, partnership and commitment to the College of Engineering.”

Garrett said the partnership will benefit students and faculty by enabling them to use the groundbreaking software and simulation tools developed by ANSYS. He said the new facility will serve as a magnet to attract undergraduate students and faculty who want to improve their innovative designs at Carnegie Mellon.

The building, scheduled to be completed this summer, will create an Engineering Quad as it sits between CMU’s Hamerschlag, Porter and Scaife halls. ANSYS Hall will physically connect to Hamerschlag and Porter halls as well as the outdoor Mall, a central location on the CMU campus.

ANSYS Hall is expected to be completed by summer 2019.

topping off ceremony
Students, faculty and staff signed the final beams in the days before the topping off ceremony.
topping off ceremony
Students, faculty and staff signed the final beams in the days before the topping off ceremony.
topping off ceremony
One person signed the final beam with a drawing of a cat.
topping off ceremony
College of Engineering Dean James Garrett, Jr., Sin Min Yap of ANSYS and Allen Robinson, head of the Mechanical Engineering Department, presided over the topping off ceremony.
topping off ceremony
College of Engineering Dean James Garrett, Jr., with Sin Min Yap of ANSYS.
topping off ceremony
It is longstanding tradition in the construction industry for an American flag and Christmas Tree to be placed on the final beam while it is being installed.
topping off ceremony
The final beam is put into place.