April 10, 2024 was a big day at Hudson’s in Detroit, Michigan as the final beam was placed at the top of the structure in a ceremony known in the construction industry as “topping out.”
The event attracted hundreds of people who attended the milestone event. The local NBC affiliate captured aerial footage of the steel member being lifted to the structure’s apex. The festive event also included a lunch for the entire crew.
You might ask, “What is SAPS doing in Detroit?”
Mechanical Parking for Hudson’s
685 feet below the rooftop festivities, and down a few levels, lies a new mechanical parking system, designed to accommodate hundreds of vehicles. The system was engineered and installed by our automated parking team, known as SilMan Automated Parking Systems, or SAPS. The team has had boots on the ground since December 2022 and is scheduled to be complete in June 2024.
The SAPS team has employed 12 Detroit-area team members, tapping into Local 1102 (Millwright) and Local 58 (Electricians), alongside SilMan’s leadership team representing Local 852 (Corinth, Mississippi) and Local 102 and 595 (Oakland, California).
The system employs our “Puzzle” solution, named for its capability to move vehicles vertically and horizontally. The parking garage spans two garage floors; layouts include single and tandem depth and two or three levels high.
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The Hudson’s Project Team
Hudson’s is a state-of-the-art commercial-retail-residential development in downtown Detroit. The project is located on the site of the historic J.L. Hudson Department store, flagship of the Hudson’s chain. Local developer Bedrock Detroit acquired the rights to develop property in 2013. Barton Malow is the General Contractor for the project.
The SilMan-Barton Malow relationship evolved through mutual relationships in Northern California, and it has been a real treat to work with the company on this dynamic project.
Tom Mangin, a senior leader at SilMan, reflected on his first face-to-face meeting with Mike Schefka of Barton Malow, saying:
“From the very first moments of our meeting, I knew our companies would be a great match. He made our team feel at home and created an environment for SilMan to excel. Moreover, the professionalism, pride, and generosity Mike and his team demonstrated mirror our aspiration as a company. This has been an incredible project, with a fantastic team.”
What is Topping Out?
The practice originated in ancient Scandinavia, where a tree was placed atop new structures. The Masonry community similarly celebrates the final block of a project.
Today, “Topping Out” is a traditional ceremony held as the final structural member of a building is placed. It is also a publicity event and an opportunity for community gatherings. And, of course, social media.
The entire crew enjoyed a community lunch to mark the event.
