Suffolk Construction recently celebrated the topping off of the Broad Institute's 75 Ames St. project. Suffolk is managing construction of the $175 million, 375,000 s/f research and development facility located in Kendall Sq., a science and technology hub. The 15-story facility will house laboratory and ancillary space, increasing the total research space of the Broad Institute to more than 500,000 s/f. Adjoining the Institute's 7 Cambridge Center site, the 75 Ames St. expansion will create a contiguous research space for developing advancements in science and technology. Other features of the expansion include 4,000 s/f of retail space on the ground floor, three mechanical floors, and an open mechanical area on the roof. Approximately 5,000 tons of steel is being used to support the new structure, which will include 92,000 s/f of exterior glass. The topping off ceremony recognized the placing of the final steel beam on the 75 Ames St. expansion. To celebrate this key construction milestone, Broad Institute director Eric Lander joined the project team, which includes Suffolk Const. development manager Boston Properties, and architect Elkus Manfredi Architects. The team worked together on the preconstruction plan for the expansion, leading to its selection to performconstruction on this important project. Construction on the Broad Institute 75 Ames St. expansion project began in November 2011 and is scheduled for completion in January 2014.