Palmetto tree and steel beam mark milestone for new children's hospital

November 14, 2017
The final beam of the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital
The blue beam, draped in an American flag and holding a Palmetto tree, rises over Charleston as workers prepare to complete the steel structure underlying the Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital and Pearl Tourville Women's Pavilion.

There’s often a tree atop the beam, based on an old Scandinavian religious rite. Since this topping out was in Charleston, a palmetto tree rode this beam on its way to the top.Topping out ceremony features a Lowcountry twist on a Scandinavian tradition.