What: Topping off ceremony for the UNT University Union construction project. Construction crews will lift and place the highest steel beam on the new University Union during the ceremony

When: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sept. 4 (Thursday). Beam will be lifted between 12:30 – 1 p.m.

Where: UNT Library Mall, 1506 W. Highland St.

DENTON (UNT), Texas -- More than 1,200 tons of concrete, 16,000 yards of rebar and 1,800 tons of steel have been poured, placed and secured in the new UNT University Union construction site, and at 11 a.m. on Sept. 4 (Thursday), UNT will celebrate the placement of the highest steel beam at a topping off ceremony on the UNT Library Mall.

"We're halfway through construction on the new union, and this milestone is very important to UNT students, as they will soon be able to see all their hard work come to fruition," said University Union Director Zane Reif. "After the placement of the highest steel beam, the building's 'skin' will start to go up, and the whole project will really take shape."

The new University Union is set to open in August 2015, and is designed to receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. As part of the project's sustainable efforts, nearly 20,000 tons of construction materials have been recycled and diverted from landfills.

The former University Union was built in 1964, expanded in the 1970s, and was designed to serve a campus of about 17,000 students. UNT has grown to have more than 36,000 students, and the former union hosted more than 2.5 million visitors every year.

Construction on the new union is expected to cost about $130 million. The building is designed to more than double the amount of student organization space provided in the current union, and will provide double the space for student lounges and art galleries. The new union also will provide more food service and entertainment space, auditorium and meeting space, a bookstore, state-of-the-art technology and sustainable design.