Topping Out Ceremony, Project Atria

On Monday 19 October, a socially distanced Topping-out Ceremony was held at Project Atria in Cambridge. The ceremony commemorated the building reaching the highest point of construction, with the placing of the final steelwork to the roof parapet at 17 metres high.

Members from The University of Cambridge, Royal Papworth Hospital and the British Heart Foundation attended and delivered speeches, highlighting the importance of this pivotal new development and the increasing importance of heart and lung research during the global pandemic. The event then saw each attendee sign a plaque which will be displayed at the top of the building.

Mr Stephen Posey, CEO of Royal Papworth Hospital, commented on SDC’s involvement, ‘… despite the challenges [COVID-19] has bought to the construction industry, you can see that the construction of the building is progressing extremely well. On behalf of all of us, I would like to thank SDC for their commitment to the project. I know that getting this far has not been easy and that it has taken a lot of hard work and ingenuity to avoid any COVID-19 delays to the project. I would also like to thank SDC for being so careful to minimise any disruption or impact to our hospital over the last few months, and for the support you have provided to Royal Papworth Hospital throughout 2020, particularly in regard to providing us with PPE and Perspex screens, you’ve been great partners, so thank you very much.’

The scheme is set to become the largest cardiothoracic centre in Europe, providing 8,000 sq.m of research space, as well as a Clinical Research Facility and Education Suite.

Roofing works to the atrium are about to commence, followed by the gradual fitout of the internal spaces. The whole scheme is due to finish in early 2022.