URI College of Engineering celebrates milestone with topping off ceremony

THE UNIVERSITY OF Rhode Island held a topping off ceremony Jan. 26 to celebrate the installation of the final piece of structural steel for its new College of Engineering complex. / COURTESY URI/NORA LEWIS
THE UNIVERSITY OF Rhode Island held a topping off ceremony Jan. 26 to celebrate the installation of the final piece of structural steel for its new College of Engineering complex. / COURTESY URI/NORA LEWIS

SOUTH KINGSTOWN – Construction of a nearly 200,000-square-foot College of Engineering complex at the University of Rhode Island recently celebrated a milestone. 

The topping off ceremony, to mark the installation of the final piece of structural steel, was held on Jan. 26. In all, the building frame includes 2,137 tons of structural steel. At the peak of activity, 100 steelworkers were on-site. 

ISO 9001:2026: A Practical Opportunity to Build for What’s Next

For Rhode Island manufacturers, ISO 9001 has been much more than a certificate on the…

Learn More

The $150 million complex is the largest construction project in the university’s history, according to a news release. It is funded with $125 million in bond proceeds, approved by voters in 2014. Another $25.5 million will be directed to a second phase, the renovation of the historical home of URI engineering, Bliss Hall. 

The new building will provide modern space for the university’s engineering programs, including interdisciplinary opportunities. The project architect is Philadelphia-based Ballinger. The general contractor is Providence-based Dimeo Construction Co. 

- Advertisement -

The work began in February 2017 and is expected to be concluded by September 2019. 

Mary MacDonald is a staff writer for the PBN. Contact her at macdonald@pbn.com.

No posts to display