The Week of October 6, 2019 — Big Changes Coming to the West Side Corridor Between the Two Structures
Behind the security walls of the construction site, there will be some major changes taking place. At first, the casual observer will hear more than see what is happening behind the security fencing around the main entrance to the existing Medical Center. Between the entrances to the Schuman Pavilion and the Medical Center work will continue on the walkway and Canopy that will connect the main entrance canopy to the new dropoff/turnaround location. To the left (as you walk in the entrance of the Medical Center), or the west side passage between the existing Medical center and the new structure, the ironworkers will begin building an enclosed double-decker bridge. At first, the observer will see the steel columns rise above the security walls (or if one happens to be in the eastern north-south corridor they can view all of the action) followed by the connecting beams at the second-floor level and then the connecting beams on the third floor.
During this time, work will continue on the top section of the tunnel, and work will continue on the moat pads that bridge the moat between the building and grade.
1. Construction of the Patient Entrance Canopy
Preparing for a concrete pour.Setting rebar and column anchors.The east-west canopy will connect to the north-south canopy at the dropoff/turnaround. About 4:00 PM the concrete pour begins.At 8:28 PM, work continues on the concrete slab.By early morning, the north-south section of the canopy was being expanded to the south.The east-west run canopy frame as viewed from the 16th floor.Another view of the east-west run from grade.Nearing the completion of the frame.For the next few months, the Medical Center’s temporary covered entrance walkway has been completed.
2. Install the Moat Cover — The Work Continues
Three tradesmen work on the sliders, which are attached to the cap slab, on which the moat covers will be installed. Approximately two-thirds of the moat cover will rest on the cap slab, while the other third, which is attached to the structure, cover the moat. The tradesmen are working on the cap slab above the tunnel looking out over the moat. The moat covers in this image are first called moat pans. After each panel is filled with concrete, they are known as moat covers.
3. Construct Crane Pad and Set Crane
An overhead view of the crane’s pad, which was leveled before the crane arrived.
4. Remove Steel from Tunnel
By 8:30 AM, the tunnel is exposed after the steel was removed. It was stacked to the side and will be removed piece by piece.The length of the tunnel without its steel bracing as viewed from the cap slab.
5. Construct Double Decker-Pedestrian Bridge
By 7:23 AM, the ironworkers had set two columns on the east side of the tunnel. It must be noted that the tunnel and the double-decker pedestrian bridge are connected in that the columns of the bridge are set just inside of the tunnel walls.The third column is being lowered into place.A view of the columns as they appear from the second floor of the podium. The third column in the image is being bolted to the concrete pedestal, which is approximately 40-feet in the ground. Note how the columns are set inside the tunnel. The bottom of the tunnel is clearly visible. Jack Kay III, assistant job superintendent took this image from the second floor of the podium and forwarded it to me as I monitor the action from above. With five of the six columns set, the steelworkers begin to shakeout (sort) the steel.A view of the shakeout from the north side of the tunnel.A view from the cap slab.A view of the tunnel and the columns from the second story.The first beam is being lowered into place.Between the columns.Lower: nearing the insertion point.The first beam is bolted into place.When looking at the Medical Center straight on, we notice that the pedestrian bridge is ant an angle to the buildings.The cross beam for the east end appears to underline the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital logo as it is lowered into position.Maneuvering the cross beam at the east end.Releasing the cable on the east cross beam.The end of the first day: The steel now rises to the second floor of the podium.A view from the south at the end of the first day.A view from the north.A View From Above: An advantage of being 6′ 3″ allows me to hang over the parapet of the building and take photos from the 16th and the 17th floors. This image of the passageway between the two structures shows the location of the multistory pedestrian bridge. This image clearly shows that the bridge is not perpendicular to either structure.Silhouettes and towers.With Louie (left) hiding his face behind the column, Niley (right) cuts a bolt on the second column.Louie (left) and Niley (right) tighten the bolts on the second story second column. Having the corrugated metal across the infills makes it easier for the ironworkers to maneuver around on the steel. Column three (3) for the second story is lowered into place.Column four (4) for the second story goes up, over and set.The first quadrant with infill beams hung.The steel frame of the west end multistory pedestrian bridge as viewed from the north. Parking structure P4 on the south side of Barton Road is in the background. The existing Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital and Medical Center are to the right.The end of the second day facing north: The first quadrant was completed.Angling Toward the Existing Medical Center: The multistory pedestrian bridge as viewed from parking structure P4.Angling Toward the New Structure: The multistory pedestrian bridge as viewed from parking structure P4.Hanging infills as viewed from parking structure P4.Viewed From the North Grade: And after three days, the crane left the site.An approximate rendering of the corridor after the project is completed. The fire lane goes under the bridge and around the south side of the buildingViewed From the South Grade: And after three days, the multistory steel frame was completed.A view of the ironworkers from the third-floor.
And So, We Conclude the Week With Changes to the West End Corridor
Although there are checkmarks behind the punch ticket items, work will continue as the job’s progress toward completion.
Other Punch Ticket Items That Were On This Week’s List
Although this week’s main feature is the multistory pedestrian bridge that is being erected over the tunnel in the corridor between the structures, there are other areas that will be updated in this post.
Behind the Mesh Curtains — The Elevator Shafts
On the way to the third floor on Friday to photograph the west end pedestrian bridge, I saw some activity behind the mesh curtain cordoning off the main floor elevator lobby. Always looking for something new to the project’s story, I decided to part the curtain and took a look around. Luckily, some of the elevator mechanics were in plain view. After talking with the Otis elevator installer who was working on an electric car sling in the center elevator shaft, I snapped a few photos. Just as I turned to leave the area, something happened, which was unexpected not only to me but to the young installer as well. Fortunately, I was able to video what came down from the elevator shaft left of the sling on which the tradesman was working.
During construction, the doorways to the elevator lobbies are usually covered with an off-white mesh curtain with a danger sign hanging from the top of the door jamb. This image is of the back door, which is accessed from a corridor to the Children’s public elevators. On the other side, there is a larger lobby area where the three (3) elevators are located.In the center shaft, an elevator tradesman was working on the electric car sling, which supports the components of the elevator car.At the bottom of the elevator shaft to the right where the sling was hanging, a hydraulic elevator car buffer (center) was anchored to the elevator shaft.Stabilizing tracks (guide rails) that are installed inside the elevator shaft.Roller guide assembly with wheels that travel along the tracks or guide rails. They are self-adjusting, which makes for a smoother ride.Suddenly without warning, a functioning elevator sling appeared from an upper floor. This was the first time, I had witnessed such an occurrence Fortunately, I was able to put my camera into movie mode and take about 13 seconds of video as the sling came into view.
An elevator sling makes a surprise appearance as it arrives from a floor above. The wooden safety platform rests on the bottom of the sling on which the elevator car will be anchored.
A Sneak Peak on Level 3, the Surgical Services Floor
After taking a few photos of the west end bridge from the third floor, I decided to walk from the west end of the building to the east end. The route I chose was the southern semi-restricted corridor that runs the full length of the building. The south side of the corridor has narrow floor to ceiling vertical paneled windows, which overlooks the Children’s emergency drop-off and parking to the west, the ambulance emergency department parking is in the center, and to the east, the Adult emergency department drop-off and parking. Barton Road is beyond the designated drop-off and parking areas.
The long east-west semi-restricted corridor that runs the full length of the podium.At the far end (east end) of the long corridor is a specialty operating room. Through the double doors and across the hall (center right) will be a collaboration/team training/simulation room. Another view of the specialty operating as viewed from the double doors.Up the hall are the Recovery (PACU) Rooms, which are still in the framing stage.
The Emergency Generator Building Pad — Update
Preparing the electrical vault pad for the concrete pour.Earlier in the day, the concrete pad for the electrical vault was poured.The electrical vault is being framed for a concrete pour.The backside of the electrical vault.
CAT Scanning Equipment — Base Imaging
On the second floor in the Ultrasound area, I was shown the base points for one of the CT machines. Prior to the machine being delivered, grid lines must be precisely established and marked before the anchor holes are drilled into the concrete. This task can only be done by a construction imaging system that looks through the concrete.
Parking Structure P4 — South Elevation Views
Two images stitched together, which gives a panoramic view of the south elevation.
After graduate school Dennis accepted a position at Loma Linda University. He worked there for 42 years in the areas of administration and financial management, also teaching accounting and management to dietetic students at the School of Public Health. Through the years Dennis has chronicled the growth of the campus, including the construction of the Drayson Center and the Centennial Complex and the razing of Gentry Gym. He is the author of "The Mound City Chronicles: A Pictorial History of Loma Linda University, A Health Sciences Institution 1905 - 2005." dEp 09.30.2016 🔨
So does the third walkway land on the roof