Submitted photo The Randolph County Development Authority hosted a special ‘beam-setting’ ceremony Tuesday for the new Event and Conference Center being constructed in downtown Elkins. Taking part in the ceremony were, from left, Nathaniel Bonnell, Mark Doak, Jerry Marco, Shane Whitehair, Robbie Morris, Charlie Friddle, Jennifer Morgan, Brenda Kaubisch, Kris Wilmoth, Mark Haddix, Ed Phares, Crystal Gibson, Emily Huguenin, Bill Hartman, Larry Riggleman, Hoy Ferguson, David Kesling and Shawn Dilly.

ELKINS — The Randolph County Development Authority hosted a special “beam-setting” ceremony on Tuesday for the new Event and Conference Center that is being constructed behind the Elkins Railyard Depot.

A final beam — the last piece of structural steel necessary for the Center — was hoisted and put in place after being signed by RCDA staff members and representatives from Ascend West Virginia, who will have a work space at the new facility.

“It was a milestone day for this project,” said Mark Haddix, the president of the RCDA Board of Directors.

“Our contractor, Paramount Builders, has been working very hard throughout the summer and fall to get the building under roof and dried before winter. It was great to celebrate the last piece of steel being installed.”

Randolph County Development Authority Executive Director Robbie Morris recently told The Inter-Mountain that he expects the Event Center to open early in the spring of 2026.

Once complete, the 28,000-square foot, $11.6 million facility will host a Conference Center that will seat more than 500 people, and a Performing Arts Theater capable of hosting 425 people.

“The project is moving ahead nicely,” Morris said. “The project is currently scheduled to be completed in May 2026.”

Randolph County Commission President David Kesling attended Tuesday’s ceremony and was impressed with how the construction of the facility is coming along.

“They have really come a long way this summer with the construction of the Center,” Kesling told The Inter-Mountain. “We were able to take a tour of what they already have done and it’s going to be really nice once it’s finished.”

Local leaders, including Elkins Mayor Jerry Marco, also attended the ceremony. Paramount Builders from St. Albans is the general contractor at the site, while CKS Contracting of Buckhannon is putting up the steel for the facility, which is located directly behind the Elkins Rotary Amphitheater.