Good things come in threes, as we say in Germany: Today we celebrated the third topping-out ceremony at the site this year. After the power station and the construction shell of the north pier, it was now the BBI tower’s turn. It’s only 195 days since my co-workers laid the foundation stone and already the shell is complete and towering a dizzying 72 metres into the sky. It took 8000 tons of concrete and 438 tons of steel to build it.

When you consider that of the 35 million euros spent on the tower, a hefty 13 million went on highly specialised technology, you realise that the tower is where the brain of the BBI will be. If it should ever fail, not an aircraft will be able to take off or land. Not a happy thought.

“Literally great things have been achieved here,” were the words of praise German Air Traffic Control (DFS) boss Ralph Riedle had for my fellow workers. And Prof. Dr. Rainer Schwarz also thanked the Züblin building company for its accurate and punctual work. Of course, that is set to continue until the BBI finally opens in autumn 2011. After all our praises had been sung, the site foreman read out the traditional topping-out speech, the wreath was raised and the guests were treated to a hearty buffet, bubbly and beer. By the way, the next topping-out ceremony is just round the corner, in spring 2010, when the shell of the BBI terminal will be finished. I can hardly wait!

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