On Nov. 9, GE Johnson and Peak Custom Fabrication crews erected and installed the highest steel beam on the Pikes Peak Summit Complex at the top of 14,115-ft Pikes Peak. The new facility replaces the existing visitor’s center, which was built in 1963, and is the highest ongoing construction site in North America. The new complex will feature an immersive visitor experience, with multimedia exhibits that tell the story and history of the mountain.
Begun in June 2018, the structure is expected to take three years to complete. With a short work season atop the mountain (late spring to late fall, weather permitting), each day’s shift is shortened to keep workers safe from the effects that can be suffered at high altitudes. More than 30,000 tons of rock have been excavated at the site for the 38,000-sq-ft facility, which includes 418 precast panels and 319 PermaTrak boardwalk panels. The Pikes Peak Summit Complex reached several project milestones this fall, and all remaining exterior activities will be completed in the next building season.