The York Judicial Center in Biddeford, Maine celebrated its topping off milestone on June 4, 2021. This construction tradition hails from Scandinavia and occurs when the final beam is hoisted into place. Principal Emeritus Moe Finegold, FAIA, Director of Design and Principal Tony Hsiao, AIA, Project Manager Clair Colburn, AIA, LEED AP BD+C and Project Architect Megan Carriere, AIA, NCARB all signed the beam prior to its installation.

York Judicial Center will be a 118,000 gsf, all-electric courthouse. The project consolidates four court departments and provides 10 courtrooms, a mediation suite, clerk transaction spaces, a resource center, jury deliberation rooms and detention areas. The building, on schedule for completion in February 2023, features woodland views, natural light, clear wayfinding and a harmonious palette of finishes. Head here to learn more about York Judicial Center and keep scrolling to see more images from the topping off.

Thank you to the entire York team for your continuous hard work on this project:

Construction Management: Consigli

Structural Engineer: Thornton Tomasetti

MEP/FP Engineer: Arup, USA

Sustainable Design Consultant: The Green Engineer, Inc

Civil Engineer: Gorrill Palmer Consulting Engineers, Inc

Code Research: Cosentini Associates

Cost Estimating: Faithful+Gould

Landscape Architect: Richardson & Associates

Interior Design: Arrowstreet

Signage: Arrowstreet

Geothermal Engineering: Haley & Aldrich

Elevator Consultant: VDA Consulting Services

Acoustics: Cavanaugh Tocci Associates

AV Consultants: Cavanaugh Tocci Associates

Lighting Design: Arup, USA

Specifications: Mark Wilhelm

Principal Emeritus Moe Finegold, FAIA, signs his name on the beam. This is Moe’s last official project as he transitions to Principal Emeritus this year after 46 years of firm leadership. In his time here, Moe has completed over 100 different projects!

Signatures from the Finegold Alexander Team: Moe Finegold, Jeffrey Garriga, Clair Colburn, Megan Carriere, Christopher Lane, Rob Law, Megan Hoover, Leah Wolkovich-Quartey, Erin Flaherty, Ozge Diler Himes as well as former team members Beth Pearcy, Nat Crosby, Christina Santore, and Jeremy Garczynski.

Fun fact: Ancient Scandinavians placed a tree atop their new buildings during their “topping out” ceremony to appease the tree-dwelling spirits displaced during construction. The tradition still stands for the AEC industry to this day!

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