Top This: Officials hold ceremony at future Acrisure Amphitheater

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- A topping-off ceremony has taken place this afternoon for the future Acrisure Amphitheater in downtown Grand Rapids. The final beam was installed to support the canopy over the stage and most of the seating area. The event on Market Avenue highlighted the progress that's been made after one year of construction along the east banks of the Grand River and south of the US-131 S-Curve.

Here is more information from a Grand Action 2.0 news release:

 Pioneer + Barton Malow, construction manager on the Acrisure Amphitheater, hosted a canopy topping-off ceremony this afternoon, marking a milestone in the two-year construction of the riverside amphitheater. At the ceremony, the final steel beam comprising the framework of the canopy was put in place.

“This ceremony marks roughly the halfway point in construction and carries on a longstanding tradition in the construction industry,” said Pioneer Construction President and CEO, Tim Schowalter. “It’s an opportunity for our dedicated workers and our project partners to reflect, celebrate and take pride in the progress we’ve made since breaking ground in May 2024.”

The topping off ceremony traditionally marks the completion of the vertical steel construction. It has global roots and dates to the late 1800s in the U.S., when many iron workers were Native American and hanging an evergreen from the steel beam had spiritual significance. An American flag is also hung from the beam to demonstrate pride in U.S. construction.

“We have a tremendous team leading construction,” said Grand Action 2.0 Co-chair, Tom Welch. “This is an exciting moment to acknowledge their work and celebrate everyone who has played a role in developing this transformational community asset that will enrich the quality of life and drive economic growth in our region for generations to come.”

Participants—who included leaders from project developer Grand Action 2.0, lead donor Acrisure, steel erection team of Pioneer Erectors and LPR, architect and engineer of record Progressive Companies, steel erection engineer Ruby & Associates, steel fabricators Steel Supply Engineering and Thomas Steel, and other community leaders, donors and project partners—signed the final steel canopy beam that was then raised to complete the framework for the 60,000-square-foot canopy.

The canopy framework is built from 1,600 tons—or 3.2 million pounds—of steel. When complete, the canopy—which will be roughly the size of a football field—will cover the stage and about 75 percent of the fixed seating area, will provide protection from sun and rain, and will enhance venue acoustics and aesthetics.

Next steps will include adding architectural metal panels to the framework to create the roof and soffit for the amphitheater. The construction team will also proceed with concrete and earth work to create the seating bowl located under the canopy.

Another 30 tons of steel will be used in construction of the Market Street structures that will surround and wrap the amphitheater and will house concessions, operations, VIP areas, and green rooms. Steel construction on these areas is slated for completion in July 2025.

Full construction is on track for completion in May 2026.

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About Pioneer Construction + Barton Malow

Pioneer Construction and Barton Malow, two Michigan-based, family-owned firms, bring nearly two centuries of combined experience to shaping communities through construction. Pioneer, rooted in Grand Rapids, and Barton Malow, headquartered in Southfield, share a legacy of craftsmanship, integrity, and innovation. Together, as a joint venture, they are bringing their expertise to the Acrisure Amphitheater—Grand Rapids’ newest entertainment destination. With Pioneer’s deep local roots and self-performed trades and Barton Malow’s extensive experience in large-scale entertainment venues, this collaboration ensures the project is built to the highest standards, reinforcing both companies’ commitment to Michigan’s future.

About Grand Action 2.0

Grand Action 2.0 is a not-for-profit economic development organization. Its primary mission is to identify transformational capital-intensive projects in downtown Grand Rapids and adjacent neighborhoods, galvanize public opinion and support, leverage public and private investment and formulate and implement funding strategies including securing private sector funding in support of requests for primary public sector funding. Grand Action 2.0 is co-chaired by Dick DeVos, Carol Van Andel and Tom Welch.