Rives E. Worrell Co., a JE Dunn Construction Company, recently held a topping out ceremony at Hesse K-8 School in Savannah to thank subcontractors on the project. To date, the workforce participation consists of 87 percent local businesses and 32 percent minority- and woman-owned business enterprises. 

“When working on such a large project, it is imperative for us to have qualified and trustworthy subcontractors,” said Ryan Price, a vice president of Rives E. Worrell Co. “We wanted to take this opportunity to give back to all the subcontractors who have been part of this successful effort.”

The following MWBEs were recognized for their contributions to the construction:

● ABC Waste of Savannah, Inc.
● Bonitz of Georgia
● Champion Fire Protection, Inc.
● Coastal Environmental & Construction Management
● Coastal Grading and Rental, Inc.
● Cornerstone Masonry Group, LLC
● Cyntechs
● Dan J. Sheehan Co.
● Economy Masonry
● Mark Crapse Construction, LLC
● Master Craft Flooring
● McCarthy, Inc.
● Metal Crafts, Inc.
● Miller Painting Company, Inc.
● Mock Plumbing and Mechanical, Inc.
● Morris Mechanical, Inc.
● R.J. Hall Construction, Inc.
● Savannah Fence and Entry Systems, Inc.
● Signs of the South, Inc.
● Steel Erectors, Inc.
● Sundial Land Surveying
● The Nelson Group
● ThyssenKrupp Elevator Corp.
● W&W Custom Cabinets, Inc.
● William Henry Trucking, Inc.

Topping out ceremonies can be traced to the ancient Scandinavian practice of placing a tree atop a new building to appease the tree-dwelling spirits displaced during construction. Today, it typically marks an intermediate point in construction, such as when the roof is dried in.