June 17, 2008 (Park City, Utah) – The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) celebrated a milestone in the construction of its Center of Excellence Monday. Around 50 USSA staff members joined the Jacobsen Construction crew to celebrate the final steel beam being placed on the building in a “topping off” ceremony.

“A topping off party is a tradition in construction to celebrate the completion of the framework of a building,” said Heather Soderquist who manages the construction of the Center of Excellence. “It’s also a chance to thank our construction workers for their hard work – especially with the long and hard winter we had and to celebrate together with the building owner.”

To commemorate the event, staff and crew were able to put their signatures on the steel beam and watch while it was put in place on the mammoth three-story building.

“It’s a major step in moving towards next March when the building will officially open. It’s an opportunity for us to thank our construction team, Jacobsen, and our architect WPA,” said USSA President and CEO Bill Marolt. “They have been phenomenal. They worked through a long, tough winter – one of the hardest we’ve had here in Park City. It’s going to be a world-class facility.”

Following the beam placement, attendees were able to walk through the facility, noting the areas where staff will work, and where Olympic champions will be training in less than a year.

“Any time you have the opportunity to work on a facility like this, where the end gain is providing an opportunity for young people to fulfill their Olympic dreams, people get excited,” Marolt said. “People get excited about the youth of America becoming Olympic champions. They take a special pride. And they take a special commitment to excellence – a commitment to make this facility absolutely perfect.”

“It was especially exciting to see all of the USSA staff out here today. Usually at these ceremonies we only have a few executives. But it was great to have all of the staff who will be working here and to have them sign the final steel beam,” Soderquist said.

Less than 11 months ago, ground was broken on the Center of Excellence project. Now, the 85,000 sq ft project is an erect frame of steel ready for new phases of construction and on track to be complete next spring.

“This project is very special for everyone because we’re doing this for athletes,” Soderquist added. “I know that in future years our workers will be watching these great athletes and know that in some small way we have helped play a role in their success.”