The “topping out” ceremony is an ancient tradition in building construction, started in Scandinavia, migrating to England, and then to the United States. It often includes placing a tree at the very top.

At 588 feet, even just the 65-story core of Marina City’s east tower was recognized as the tallest concrete structure in the world. It contained 8,000 tons of concrete. The west tower core was not far behind, having reached 27 stories.

Like the groundbreaking ceremony, the topping-out ceremony started at 11:00 a.m. Among the 500 or so people attending were:

• Mayor Richard J. Daley
• William L. McFetridge, now retired as president of the Building Service Employees International Union
• David Sullivan, the new BSEIU president
• Bertrand Goldberg and his wife, Nancy Goldberg

Construction did not stop for the ceremony. Even amplified by loudspeaker, the speeches at times were barely audible over the noise. Said Nancy Goldberg, “We don’t stop for anything.” Geoffrey Goldberg, five years old at the time, says he remembers abundant energy at the ceremony and an optimistic “euphoria” of the times. He helped hand out rolled-up paper copies of the celestrial map. (Left) Nancy Goldberg in January 1964.

After remarks by city and county officials, labor leaders, bankers, and representatives of the construction company, the bucket was sent up to the 65th floor.

McFetridge then said he would send a 20-foot pine tree and asked for a volunteer to go to the top with the tree. When no one stepped forward, the labor leader mused that he might have to send up his wife. Instead, the tree went alone and the ceremony, which had lasted about a half hour, was over.

Work would soon be visible on the multi-level structure below the towers, the office building, and the theater. Brochures would soon be mailed to 2,650 people who had inquired about renting one of Marina City’s 896 apartments. The management company expected the first tenants would move in before May 1, 1962, and that by Christmas 1962, all of Marina City’s apartments in both towers would be rented.