Valerie Castaneda carefully wrote her signature in Sharpie on the final beam of the La Casita structure.
The Multicultural and Diversity Affairs department hosted a topping out ceremony at 11 a.m. Friday in honor of the final beam structure being finished at the Institute of Hispanic-Latino Cultures, known as La Casita, and the Institute of Black Culture.
Students could come and go as they pleased to sign the beams throughout the day on Thursday and Friday, either with their names, class years or the date, Castaneda said. Students were able to watch as the last beams of the structures were placed on each of the institutes.
“In the future, I could bring my children here and show them my college experience,” the 20-year-old UF communication sciences and disorders sophomore said. “I’ll be able to find that beam up there that I signed when it was first built.”
More than 50 members of the UF Latinx community and black community were in attendance for the ceremony, along with staff from the Multicultural and Diversity Affairs department, said Angelica Abrego, a cabinet member of the Hispanic Student Association. The construction company, Foresight Construction Group, was also present for the ceremony.
The 7-foot-long steel beams were painted in the respective colors of both institutions, said Lauren Armstrong, digital communications manager of Foresight Construction Group. For the Institute of Black Culture, one beam was painted black, red and green. For La Casita, the beam was painted teal, red and white.
“We understand the importance of these facilities to the students and we really wanted to have their involvement and input,” Armstrong said.
Construction for the houses began last Fall and is due to be completed in August, Abrego said. She is looking forward to having a place to come together with members of the Hispanic Student Association.
“We can get away from everything and be with people from our community who understand us and know what we’ve been going through here,” the 19-year-old UF biology sophomore said. “This is our way of having our own space within the campus.”
Alligator contributor Edysmar Diaz-Cruz contributed to this report.
Two students signing the beam at the topping out ceremony on Friday.
