ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. -- A significant milestone in Children's Hospital history was reached on Wednesday, as the construction crew held a topping-off ceremony.

Signatures, pictures and drawings from tiny patients, their families and Lawrenceville residents bedeck the last three beams of the new hospital to be raised and welded into place, WTAE's Marilyn Brooks reported.

Topping off is a tradition among construction ironworkers everywhere, Brooks said.

It signals a milestone made and steps yet to be taken.

The final beam has bold colors and images, including the nation’s flag to symbolize the United States, an evergreen tree to represent a job well done and a broom that stands for the construction that was done without serious injury or loss of life, according to Brooks.

City and county VIP’s were in Lawrenceville for the ceremony, but they took a back seat to the children, Brooks said.

Some of the kids at the ceremony included sickle cell patient Fatima Adisa, 8, brain cancer patient Mallory Moross, 6, and liver transplant recipient Brandon Joyce, 5.

“The treatment and the care that (Brandon) got at Children's that exists now was amazing,” Brandon’ mother, Lori Joyce, said. “And with the more state-of-the art things that they're going to have, I can't imagine what they're going to be able to do for kids.”

When the hospital is completed in 2007, the new 900,000-square-foot Children’s Hospital will be able to do a lot, reports said.

“We'll have four minimally invasive surgery operating rooms, which basically helps us to do the surgery with smaller incisions and better recovery for the patients,” Children’s Hospital President and CEO Roger Oxendale said.

A virtual tour revealed spacious walkways and waiting areas for the new hospital.

It also showed private rooms, with fold-out couches for the expected 400,000 patients’ family members, Brooks said.

The new research space will double the current hospital, and add nearly 7,000 new jobs.

The new Children's Hospital is scheduled to open in early 2009.

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