On August 9, Wharton-Smith and the Seminole Tribe of Florida joined to celebrate all of the subcontractors who have tirelessly been working on the new Lakeland Community Center at the Topping Out Ceremony. See photos and video.
Guests were treated to a delicious lunch catered by Smokin’ Aces BBQ & Steakhouse and received custom t-shirts along with an entry into a raffle, which included prizes of various gift cards, TVs, a griddle, gift baskets, and even a two-night stay at a Hard Rock Hotel.
“I just want to thank everyone for their hard work,” said Executive Director of Tribal Community Development Derek Koger. “It’s remarkable that a year ago, there was nothing, and yet here we are standing in a building.”
Tribal Councilman Larry Howard emphasized the teams’ hard work and talked about how the vision of the community is coming to fruition.
“To all the subcontractors, team members, and Tribal members here who have played a role in getting us to this point, thank you,” said Area Superintendent Brad Buffington. “I’m excited to get this project across the finish line.”
Having broken ground just 11 months ago, the project includes a one-story, 35,000 SF public community building with a multipurpose area that will accommodate Tribal gatherings, cultural, educational, and recreational activities, indoor sporting events, and administrative staff for the Lakeland Tribal Community. It will also include administrative offices, a conference room, a culture room, a teaching kitchen, a gymnasium, an outdoor pool, service rooms, and on-site parking.
