Topping-Out Ceremony Marks Milestone for The Q Transformation

A major construction milestone in The Q Transformation to update and modernize the 25-year–old publicly owned Quicken Loans Arena was celebrated with a special topping-out ceremony to hoist the project’s final steel beam into place atop of the arena, located in Cleveland, Ohio. General contractor on the project is Whiting Turner.

The topping out culminates almost a year of structural steel work on the project, which began in February 2018. More than 4,750 pieces of steel, equivalent to 1,229 tons, have been installed to form the frame of the arena’s new north atrium and south entrance.

The new street-facing exterior glass façade and north atrium that will add 42,530 square feet of new public space to The Q is taking shape. When complete, 77,110 square feet of exterior glass curtainwall made up of 1,475 pieces of glass will have been installed.

Work on the south side of the arena is near completion, adding 6,350 square feet to provide a more expansive and modernized Discount Drug Mart south entrance along with the new “South Neighborhood,” a social gathering spot featuring a lineup of new food and beverage offerings.

The Q Transformation is a private/public partnership between the City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County and the Cavaliers that will modernize the venue to maintain its world-class status and remain a cornerstone for the continued growth and momentum of a city and region on the rise. Since the arena opened in 1994 in the Gateway District, it has been a core catalytic part of the over $1 billion in development in the downtown neighborhood that has become a vibrant live, work and play destination.

The transformation project’s total investment scope has grown to $185 million from its original $140 million 50-50 private/public funding agreement. The Q closed for the summer of 2018 to begin renovation work on the interior of the building that included the suite level, five membership spaces and the Cavaliers and Monsters locker rooms, which were completed when the arena re-opened in October.

As work continues on the exterior and interior of The Q throughout the Cavaliers 2018-19 season, the arena will close again for the summer of 2019 to complete the transformation. The newly renovated arena will re-open for the start of the Cavaliers, Monsters and entertainment season in October 2019.

For the most updated information on The Q Transformation process, visit TheQTransformation.com.

Photo sourge: www.nba.com.