DETROIT - Local 25 Iron Workers, Operating Engineers Local 324 and Midwest Steel placed the last major structural steel section at Little Caesar's Arena on Aug. 4, topping out the structure in a speedy and safe process that began with the placement of the first steel last November.

A topping out ceremony was held, complete with banners, appropriate speeches and the traditional fir tree lashed to the final beam, which was hoisted into place in front of a big contingent of other tradespeople, contractor and owner reps and local dignitaries. It was the last of more than 7,500 structural steel pieces comprising the backbone of the 20,000-seat hockey arena, which will be the home of the Detroit Red Wings beginning in September 2017.

"We're really excited to have everyone here today for the topping out of the arena portion of the job. This planing really started about 18 months ago," said Barton Malow Senior Project Manager Sean Hollister in remarks to the gathering. "We have a lot of great teammates that are here, a lot of great workers who have been working on this tirelessly and we're very excited to take a moment to celebrate a gigantic milestone in the project."

Illitch Holdings President and CEO Chris Illitch told the gathering that from his office nearby, he has "watched the pieces of this incredible structure go together with skill and precision. You should all feel tremendously proud of what you have accomplished thus far. And thank you to all of our iron workers and members of our crew for your amazing work.

"This project is about more than a place. It's about developing people, about driving positive change in our community. And so on behalf of my parents, Mike and Marian Illitch, and everyone at our companies and all the partners who are making this project a reality, thank you."

Illitch Holdings is the owner of the new stadium as well as the area around it, known as The District. Construction of the $1.2 billion project, spread over 50 city blocks west of Woodward and north of I-75, is expected to employ 12,500 construction and construction-related jobs and provide at least 1,100 permanent jobs, creating a $2 billion economic impact.

The topping out tradition reaches back in history perhaps 1,000 years, when the Scandinavians  celebrated the placement of the final timber beams on the halls they built. Midwest Steel Executive Vice President Tom Broad said the topping out tradition "has become a cherished custom for iron workers who say it brings good luck to all. So again, thank you very much to the tradespeople on the project. We still have several months to go before we complete our work here, so we want to make sure that everyone stays safe."

About 540 tradespeople have been employed on a daily basis at the Little Caesar's Arena, with much of the interior yet to be fitted out.

"All you guys who lace your boots up and come to work six days a week, 10 hours a day, you're the reason why we're here today," said Iron Workers Local 25 Business Representative Dennis Aguirre, who was given a turn at the mike. "Thank you for showing for the city of Detroit and the State of Michigan what the union iron worker is capable of."

 THE CREW OF IRON WORKERS Local 25 members and Midwest Steel employees who have built the steel framework at Little Caesar’s Arena in Detroit, pause for a photo on Aug. 4 before the final beam was placed. Photo: The District Detroit.