A Look Back: Construction of the Original 20th-Century Cloverleaf LLU Hospital *Completed*

The original and once-modern “cloverleaf” towers of the Loma Linda University Hospital will soon be dwarfed by the modern 17-story 21st-century hospital being constructed over the next few years. Below, in chronological order, we review the construction of the original hospital during the 1960s. (All photos in this post are from the Loma Linda University Photo Archive, courtesy of the Heritage Resource Center.)🔨

In less than a decade from when this aerial photograph was taken, the citrus grove near the top of the photograph would give way to a nine-story
teaching hospital, as indicated by the outline to the right. The new 17-story hospital being built today will appear in the location
indicated by the outline on the left.🔨

With the citrus grove gone and the construction pit dug, an auger drills a hole for one of the many caissons that will support the new hospital’s
foundation. In the upper left, the tower of the University Church rises above the pit. 🔨

A construction worker uses a backhoe to clear dirt from a footing. In the background, to the right, is the Campus Hill Church and to the
left is the School of Dentistry building. Further to the left, and out of view,  is the University Church.

In the construction pit, more than two stories below grade, the foundation pilings stand silent and erect. 🔨

The construction pit as seen from the air looking south (circa 1963). The University Church is right center, the School of Dentistry is in the center
(flat roof) and the Campus Hill Church is located on the brow of the hill in the lower left of the photo.

This aerial photo depicts an excellent outline of where the three seven-story towers will rise. 🔨

An aerial view of the south-facing tower as it is being formed.🔨

As the cloverleaf towers rise, the vision of what the hospital would one day become slowly becomes a reality. 🔨

Now that the hospital’s cloverleaf towers have reached their maximum height, the concrete exteriors near completion.
This photo captures the installation of the roofing material.🔨

An aerial view of the hospital and the Loma Linda campus as the hospital nears completion. 🔨

From all appearances, the hospital will soon be ready for occupancy. 🔨

An early 1970s photo of the Loma Linda University Hospital as shimmers in the top reflecting pool.🔨