A steel beam—painted white and graced by a living evergreen tree, an American flag and dozens of signatures and messages—swung across a blue sky and into place atop the superstructure of UC San Diego Jacobs Medical Center Thursday. The final beam marked the midpoint between groundbreaking and completion—and a huge milestone for UC San Diego. The special event was “topped out” with a surprise announcement from Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla.

“Just recently, an anonymous donor came to us and offered a $25 million challenge gift with the offer of a dollar for dollar match for every donation made to Jacobs Medical Center,” said Khosla. “This amazing gift will help us complete this building. Don’t look to your right or left. The donor is not here today, but will be here when we cut the ribbon in 2016.”

Kitchell is a design-build partner on the UC Jacobs San Diego Medical Center.

Read the rest of the article here