The Week of August 31, 2020 — Major Changes Around the Campus Towers

This week’s featured image is of an excavator ripping up asphalt from what used to be the driveway into the main entrance to the Medical Center.

Once Around the Towers: The week of August 31, 2020, takes us into September and closer to completion. With the crews hard at work on the inside, there are several crews working around the perimeter of the building. Some examples of the activity I was able to observe on my recent rounds: 1) The east gate on Anderson Street has become the main entrance for delivery trucks as the south gate is closed (except for concrete trucks and heavy equipment related to the excavation, grading, and compaction) as the southeast corner and around the south side of the project, fronting Barton Road, major excavation, and grading is underway. As sections have met the compaction standards, the curbs and gutters are formed, and the concrete is poured. 2) Just south of the east parking lot a crew continues to work on the amphitheater. 3) Moving to the west, and parallel to the grading of the frontage road, electricians are laying electrical conduit for the parking lot lights, and other outdoor lighting. 4) Further to the west, a crew is working on the ambulance screen. 5) Another crew is clearing the area near the south west corner of the building to make way for the surveyors, excavators, and compactors to come in and layout the Children’s ER drop-off and parking lot areas. 6) A little further to the west, a crew is cutting back the bank that parallels Barton Road and bringing the frontage road to rough grade before excavation and compaction. Once that is completed, the curbs and gutters will be formed and poured with concrete. 7) To the west, a crew is working on the loading dock. 8) Nearby, just to the north, a crew works on the second story access to the existing Children’s Hospital. 9) Also working on the second floor area is a crew from the glass company setting glass panels on the connecting walkway’s steel frame. 10) Down on the ground between the west connecting bridge and the Grand Hallway frame, a crew from the glass company layout glass panels in the order they will be hoisted to the second level. 11) A few yards away to the north, a welder works on the Grand Hallway steel frame. 12) On the other side of the Grand Hallway, I could see a noticeable change: The former drop-off area for the Medical Center was cleared of equipment, tool chests, supplies, and materials. The aluminum covered walkway with its columns had been removed. But more noticeably was the asphalt drive. Much of it was gone. As I rounded the corner, a large excavator was ripping up big chunks of asphalt and loading large pieces into a large hauler. The removal of the asphalt is a good indication that excavation and grading work will soon begin on the new entrance to the hospital. 13) On Wednesday, I chanced upon Kelly Lemar, Project Engineer and Joanne Sinkarsin, LLUMC Interior Planner who were reviewing color concrete samples at the “Come Unto Me Statues.” Closer to completion, the statues are scheduled to be relocated on the northeast side of the Galleria 14) To the north, on the east side of the Shuman Pavilion Pedestrian Bridge, welders were continuing their work on the main entrance trellis columns located to the north of the Galleria. 14) Finally, completing the walkabout around the building, I stood at the vault (on the northeast side) and watched a crew dismantle the scaffold anchored to the foundation. With the removal of the scaffolding, steel stairs will be set in the vault. The stairs are to be used as an emergency exit. 

Overhead View of the Campus

(For Illustrative Purposes Only!)

Once Around the Dennis and Carol Troesh Medical Campus

A Little Road Trip East and South of the Towers

From the West Connecting Bridge to the Southeast Corner