The College of Eastern Idaho reached a major milestone on Tuesday with the “topping-off” ceremony for its new Future Tech Building in Idaho Falls. The massive 88,000-square-foot facility will eventually serve as the home for CEI’s advanced courses in energy, innovation, and technology.

“This building is not only going to transform our physical campus, it’s going to transform our community,” CEI President Lori Barber said. “Can you imagine how many lives are going to go through this building, and their lives are going to be completely transformed?”

Barber emphasized the importance of the trades, noting, “The trades … they’re not a backup plan. They are the backbone of the United States.”

The Future Tech Building will host programs in cutting-edge fields such as cybersecurity, energy systems, mechatronics, nuclear technology, battery technology, and solar energy. It is slated for completion in the summer of 2026.

“Yes, it’s a physical structure, but it’s also about building opportunities,” Barber added. “We expect that we will have 1,000 additional students that go through this building yearly.”

The topping-off ceremony was marked by the placement of the final steel beam in the building’s frame. The superstructure of the building consists of 570 tons of steel, distributed across around 1,100 custom-built pieces. “It took these guys over here over 11,000 bolts to put that iron together,” said Ben Merkling, vice president of Cives Steel Company Northwest Division. A workforce of 200 employees put in approximately 25,000 man-hours to assemble the frame.

The tradition of “topping-off” dates back to the early Scandinavian era. “They used to put sheaves of grain at the top of their buildings for Odin’s horse, in hopes that Odin would come by and bless their dwellings,” said Michael Farrer, foreman for Intermountain Erectors Inc. Over time, the tradition evolved to placing an evergreen on top of the final beam, symbolizing growth and good fortune. More recently, the final beam has been adorned with an American flag.

Before the final beam was hoisted into place, CEI employees, donors, steelworkers, and contractors all signed it with colorful Sharpies, adding a personal touch to the occasion. Once secured at the top, the commemorative beam was caught by a steelworker.

Project manager Andrew Stewart of Andersen Construction praised his team and the local workforce for their efforts. “This is not built from people outside of this community,” Stewart said. “The blue-collar community in eastern Idaho is truly exceptional. Eastern Idaho does not need to look beyond its own backyard to find skilled, professional, and well-equipped tradespeople capable of building world-class buildings.”

Stewart also extended his thanks to the College of Eastern Idaho, its Board of Trustees, the state of Idaho, the Division of Public Works, and the architectural firm Lombard Conrad for their collaboration on the project.

CEI Board of Trustees Chairman Park Price noted the significance of the building in terms of future growth: “You all were talking about this as a topping out. We think of this as a foundation. This is how we’re going to build the next level of CEI, and without this building, we couldn’t get it done.”

Lori Barber also recognized the dedication of the 200 local workers who have been involved in constructing the Future Tech Building. “The trades, we say at CEI — because we train a lot of people who will go into the jobs that you guys are doing here — they’re not a backup plan,” she said. “They are the backbone of the United States.”

In addition to the ceremony, the building’s construction has already contributed to the region’s workforce, demonstrating the importance of local talent and community collaboration.

The Future Tech Building is expected to serve as a hub for innovation and education, providing future generations with the tools and skills needed to thrive in the high-tech industries that are shaping the future.

Originally reported by David Pace in East Idaho News.com.