LLNL Celebrates DICE Project Milestone with Traditional “Topping Off” Ceremony

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and construction crews held a "topping off" ceremony on Aug. 13 for the Digital Infrastructure Capability Expansion (DICE) project, marking a key milestone for the essential upgrade to the Lab's networking and communications capability.

The ceremony marked the installation of the final piece of structural steel on DICE, a line-item project that will provide LLNL with a modern and resilient networking and communications facility in support of the Lab's mission in the coming decades.

Spanning about 13,000 square feet, the new facility will be LEED Gold-certified, include an enhanced underground cable entrance vault and meet Uptime Institute Tier 3 standards, meaning that every capacity component and distribution path can be sustained via non-disruptive maintenance. It replaces the outdated B256 facility, which was deemed inadequate for modern digital communications.

The DICE project began work in August, 2019, with construction expected to be completed by October, 2025, followed by project close-out in August, 2026.

"This facility will support LLNL's mission for the next 40 years," said Mark Coleman, head of project management operations within the Lab's Operations & Business Directorate. "Like its predecessor, DICE will be built to last and will be more resilient to power outages and seismic risks. While the coming decades will undoubtably lead to technological changes that are impossible to anticipate, DICE's designers aim to prepare the Lab for the future."

The "topping off" of a new structure is a traditional ceremony held when the last beam (or its equivalent) is placed atop a structure during its construction. It began in Scandinavia in the 8th century, where builders would hoist a fir tree to the top of a newly constructed building — symbolizing strength, completion and good luck — and sign the last support beam before installing it into the structure. In the Native American tradition, the tree represented the highest point on the landscape, and the belief that no structure should be built taller than a tree.

For the DICE ceremony, crews signed the final beam and balanced a potted tree on the beam as it was lifted to the roof and put in place. Also in line with tradition in the U.S., the American flag was placed outside of the building edge prior to placement of the last beam.

"The American flag plays an integral role in the ceremony," explained Project Management Office Senior Project Manager Jim Haslam. "It is placed outside the building out of respect for the flag, as opposed to the beam, which is placed inside to ensure the beam and signatures of the hard working team will be viewable in the future to all."

Michael Petrino, vice president of prime contractor PTS Data Center Solutions, said the milestone was the result of a "relentless commitment to progress and collaboration with the Lab," and commended the teams' combined efforts.

"Today, the ceremony continues to symbolize more than just the completion of a building's structural framework; it stands as a testament to the teamwork, dedication and craftsmanship of everyone involved," said Petrino. "From the architects and engineers who meticulously planned every detail, to the skilled tradespeople who have brought this vision to life, and to the project managers and support teams who have ensured every piece fits perfectly together - this moment belongs to all of you."

During the event, PTS also handed out t-shirts created by a Livermore-based, women-owned small business.