(SPS) – Sapulpa Public Schools celebrated a major milestone Friday with a traditional topping out ceremony at the site of the district’s new high school, marking the placement of the building’s final structural beam.
The ceremony brought together project partners, including Nabholz Construction Corporation, Reed Architecture and Interiors, DLR Group of Kansas City, and Bennett Steel of Sapulpa, along with community members, alumni, and Sapulpa Public Schools Board of Education members.
As part of the longstanding construction tradition, attendees signed the final beam before it was hoisted into place atop the structure.
The new Sapulpa High School is the largest project funded by the Chieftain Stronger Bond issue, approved by voters in the fall of 2023. The topping out ceremony symbolizes both the completion of the building’s structural framework and recognition of the workers who made it possible.
Superintendent Rob Armstrong highlighted the significance of the moment.
“Today marks a very important milestone. Not just in the structure of a building but in the future of our students and our community,” said Mr. Armstrong.
He added that topping out ceremonies also honor the workers who made the project possible and traditionally include symbols of safety and good fortune, such as an evergreen tree.
Armstrong recognized the contributions of project partners, including Bennett Steel, and the collective effort behind the new facility.
“This structure stands as a testament to your work,” said Mr. Armstrong. “We are celebrating not just how far we’ve come but the promise of what is ahead. This school resets opportunity, our pride, and our commitment to excellence for years to come.”
Assistant Superintendent Johnny Bilby, a Sapulpa High School graduate, reflected on the project’s rapid progress.
“It’s just amazing what has happened in a little over a year,” said Mr. Bilby. “We stood here with shovels in the ground thinking of what could be. And as we stand here today, it is amazing what has taken place and what is going to take place.”
Mr. Bilby invited students to sign the beam, noting that juniors and seniors will be part of the school’s history, while current junior high students will be among the first to attend classes in the new building.
“Your name will be up there forever,” said Mr. Bilby. “What a building it is!”
Following the ceremony, attendees signed the beam before it was lifted into its final position atop the structure.
The new Sapulpa High School is scheduled for completion in mid-2027.
For more information about Sapulpa Public Schools and the Chieftain Stronger bond package, visit sapulpaps.org/Bond2023.