April 2021 — “. . .There aren’t many of us construction workers in the building these days. . . .”
The featured image for this post is a nightscape of the Loma Linda University Health LLU Children’s Hospital and LLU Medical Center on the Dennis and Carol Troesh Medical Campus as seen from Campus Mall.
The other day while standing in the Main Lobby a couple of tradesmen who I have gotten acquainted with over time exited one of the elevators. After we exchanged the proper social distancing greetings, I asked how many construction workers he thought were in the building. His response was not surprising. He looked around the otherwise empty lobby and said, “Well, I’ll tell you, there aren’t many of us construction workers in the building these days, I’d say maybe fifty.” I had to agree as I had seen very few workers during my rounds on the various floors. He did mention that on some of the upper floor they had run into some of the “staff and stock” people from the other hospital.
One of the several Gateway signs that have recently been erected on and near the campus. These directional signs required the approval of the City of Loma Linda and the Department of Transportation.
As a driver going eastbound on Barton Road crests the hill approaching Campus Street, they are greeted by a panoramic view of the new hospital towers and the distant San Bernardino mountains.
Roof Dwellers —
A Windsock, Warning Lights, Antennas, and a Security Camera
Stationed on the roof of the elevator tower are special purpose antennas, warning lights and a windsock.How many antennas do you see in this photo?A security camera that overlooks the helipad. The vertical rod is one of the many lightning protection rods that are anchored around the perimeter of the three roofs.
The Basement Dwellers
Yes, Mable, there is a real basement dweller in the basement of the new hospitals. This fox has lived down in the basement for approximately seven months. He leaves at night to hunt and sleeps in the basement during the day. A trap will be brought in and once the fox is caught, it will be released in the Loma Linda Hills. Photo by Chuck the Carpenter.As there are no elevators to the basement, I made my way down via the northeast stairs. This is the view from the flight of stairs going down.A raft of electrical panels ( both high and low voltage) greeted me as a stept foot on the concrete floor. The shaft of light (lower right) comes from the open door at grade. This is the north moat that runs east to west. To the right is the foundation wall. To the left are the base isolators on which the whole structure rests. The building does not touch the foundation wall nor does it rest on the concrete foundation floor. It is a pleasure walking in the moat. At six-three it is difficult for me to walk upright under the building.This central elevator pit is the largest of the three pits, which are concrete depression in the concrete foundation.Taking a break with my friend: After 50 minutes of walking around in the basement mostly hunched over to avoid hitting my head, and after using the stairs to climb the southwest stairs to grade, and after walking back to the north side, I needed to take a break. I am setting on the bench next to the seated Christ who is the central figure in the “Come Unto Me” sculpture that is part of the 10-piece grouping, which was relocated from a small garden northeast of the former entrance to the Medical Center. The statues are located in a courtyard just east of the Galleria, which is the main entrance facility to the new hospital complex.
A Peek Into Four Very Important Departments
The new high-rise buildings will require 24/7 coverage from these four departments.
The Operator Service (Telephone) Office.The Security Services office.The Fire Command Center. Elevator services. Out for Lunch.
The Galleria and Chapel — An Update
Facing East: The Galleria interior on the day of inspection. Note the “Come Unto Me” statues in the background just outside the windows.The Main Entry doors (center left, opposite the information desk) to the Galleria.A closeup example of the pattern on the ceiling of the Galleria.On the Peds side (east side) of the Galleria there is a Programmable Scrolling Message LED Display Board being installed. There is one of these boards on the Adult side (west side) as well.With the west sliding doors of the chapel, we can see the tradesmen installing the sculpted wood panel pieces.
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 🔨
it looks like there is more to do inside the outside (or is there?). Now I understand why the “dedication” of this complex gets keep “pushed away”. I hope to see it done before I move out of LL, but I may not.
Dennis E. Park, MA
For all practical purposes, the inside is done. There are a few items that are in the touch-up phase. LLUH is waiting for occupancy approval (which should happen any day now), meaning that they can go into the building and work in the building 24/7, but they can not have patients in the building until licensing, which will take a few months. It is my understanding that the ribbon cutting will be around August 6, 2021. Recently, some LLUMC staff has been able to go into the building for training, etc. Yesterday, I was in the building and saw perhaps 15 tradesmen working. I hope you are able to see the inside of the building before your leave Loma Linda.
it looks like there is more to do inside the outside (or is there?). Now I understand why the “dedication” of this complex gets keep “pushed away”. I hope to see it done before I move out of LL, but I may not.
For all practical purposes, the inside is done. There are a few items that are in the touch-up phase. LLUH is waiting for occupancy approval (which should happen any day now), meaning that they can go into the building and work in the building 24/7, but they can not have patients in the building until licensing, which will take a few months. It is my understanding that the ribbon cutting will be around August 6, 2021. Recently, some LLUMC staff has been able to go into the building for training, etc. Yesterday, I was in the building and saw perhaps 15 tradesmen working. I hope you are able to see the inside of the building before your leave Loma Linda.