Nabholz Construction Services hosted a topping out ceremony Wednesday to celebrate the completion of the first phase of construction of the new Paragould Medical Park in Paragould, Arkansas. Arkansas Methodist Medical Center (AMMC) and St. Bernards Healthcare have joined together to develop the Medical Park, which will be anchored by an ambulatory care facility and will serve patients in the Northeast Arkansas and Southeast Missouri areas.

After brief comments from Chairman of the Board Charles Nabholz, attendees watched as two steel beams, topped out with a tree and a flag, were hoisted to the center of the superstructure and joined together to symbolize the partnership forged by the two major healthcare providers in the $16 million project. One of the beams put into place Wednesday had been taken to AMMC and the other to St. Bernards, where employees at both organizations had the opportunity to sign them.

Ground was broken for Paragould Medical Park in December, and it is expected to be ready for use in the fall of this year. The initial phase will include a 60,000-square-foot structure that will accommodate clinical offices of a number of primary care physicians and specialists, as well as pre-admissions testing for patients who will be admitted to AMMC and St. Bernards, laboratory services, imaging services, and physical therapy and rehabilitative services. The facility will be connected fiber-optically to both AMMC and St. Bernards. Brackett Krennerich Architects of Jonesboro, AR designed the structure to be especially energy efficient.

The topping out ceremony is a kickback to a centuries-old Scandinavian tradition of placing an evergreen tree, a symbol of growth said to bring good luck, on the highest point of a shelter or home upon its completion. Though the meaning of the ceremony has changed a bit over time, we continue the tradition as a way to celebrate the completion of the most dangerous phase of construction and to symbolize thanksgiving for a safe project.