Topping out ceremony held for Bush Presidential Center

By JAMIE STENGLE Associated Press

Watch a slide show from the ceremony.

DALLAS - Former President George W. Bush said Monday that his presidential center will be a venue for learning and action, and that it already exceeds his expectations.

The George W. Bush Presidential Center will feature a presidential library and policy institute when it opens in spring 2013. Bush said the institute, which will focus on education reform, global health, human freedom and economic growth, will help him to stay involved in the areas that interest him.

"The challenge is after you are president to make sure you are still constructive, that you add something to society," Bush told some 600 people gathered at a ceremony to mark the placement of center's last construction beam. "I thought long and hard about how I wanted to do that."

He described the center as "an exciting place. A place of learning, a place of scholarship, but most importantly, a place of action."

The nearly 225,000-sq.-foot center is located on about 25 acres on the campus of Southern Methodist University. When completed in spring 2013, it will have an exterior of red brick and limestone and landscaping that includes a restored prairie, a woodland and wildflower meadow.

Read the full story or watch the video report.

• The Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Bush says progress on his presidential center is 'awe-inspiring'
• WFAA-TV News: Bush visits library for progress report
• The Dallas Morning News: George W. Bush Presidential Center marks construction milestone with 'topping out' ceremony
• The Daily Campus: SMU holds Topping Out Ceremony for George W. Bush Presidential Center
• D Magazine: Architect Robert Stern Shows Off the Bush Center
• KERA Public Radio: Bush Presidential Center "Topping Out" 
• KTVT News: Former President Bush, First Lady On Hand For Library Ceremony At SMU

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