for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin 11:05 a.m. CT March 3, 2017

Chancellor Bernie Patterson, with guidance from Miron Construction Co. crane operator Jerry Laird lifts the final beam to the top of the new Chemistry Biology Building at UW-Stevens Point. Faculty, staff, students, community members and legislators signed the bean and attended a topping out ceremony Feb. 27. It marked the four-story, 176,500 square-foot building reaching its tallest point.(Photo: Courtesy of UW-Stevens Point)

STEVENS POINT - Construction of the four-story Chemistry Biology Building at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point has reached its tallest point.

A topping-out ceremony marks completion of the highest point in a building project. The final beam was signed by Chancellor Bernie Patterson, legislators and others Feb. 27, then placed on top of the building. More than 100 students, faculty and staff signed the UW-Stevens Point-branded beam.

The final beam was lifted to the top of the new Chemistry Biology Building at UW-Stevens Point Feb. 27. Faculty, staff, students, community members and legislators joined a topping out ceremony marking the four-story building reaching its tallest point.(Photo: Courtesy of UW-Stevens Point)

The 176,500 square-foot building now dominates the campus skyline on what used to be parking lot X east of the current Science Building.

This is one symbol of all the great things going on at this campus, Patterson said.

Miron Construction Co., Inc., of Neenah is the general contractor and has up to 150 workers and subcontractors onsite each week. They are installing roofing, interior walls, piping, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection work. The exterior concrete block is completed, and brick veneer will follow, said Gerald David, Miron project superintendent.

The projects economic impact is estimated at $144 million, Patterson noted. Thats based on a formula cited by C3 Statistical Solutions to calculate construction industry impact. The project generates work for hundreds of people in construction trades, boosting jobs in other sectors that service them throughout central Wisconsin. From hotels and restaurants to hardware and office supply stores, from rental equipment to crane repair, the uptick in local business is noticeable because of the Chemistry Biology Building.

The $75.18 million project is on schedule. Work began in April 2016, and is targeted for completion in late spring 2018 for class in fall 2018.

This is the first major, free-standing academic facility built on campus since 1971. It is the largest single construction project in UW-Stevens Points 123-history, said Carl Rasmussen, facilities planning director at UW-Stevens Point. Other campus buildings have more total square footage, but were built with subsequent additions.

Given the level of complexity and size of our project, were pleased to have Miron on the job, Rasmussen said.

The Chemistry Biology Building will contain three 48-seat classrooms, two 55-seat classrooms, two 24-seat classrooms, two 96-seat lecture halls plus research and teaching labs for biology and chemistry on each floor. Flexible room configurations combined with modern technology will support hands-on learning and student research, hallmarks of a UW-Stevens Point education.

Design work is being done by Potter Lawson, Inc., Madison; and HOK, St. Louis, Mo., to meet sustainable LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards.

Those interested can watch progress on a live video stream from the UW-Stevens Point website. Go to http://www.uwsp.edu/cols and select Chemistry Biology Building.

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UWSP Chemistry Biology building 'tops out' - Stevens Point Journal