The Week of March 18, 2018 — With the Threat of Rain in the Forecast, Structural Steel Installation Continues

With the week beginning on Sunday, March 18, 2018,

A pano view of the construction site and the Loma Linda University campus as viewed from the top of the parking structure P4.

As I leaned over the safety cables and peered down into the pit an eerie reflection from the morning rays bounced off of the decking highlighting the two three-story columns (center left), which accentuated their mammoth size. This photo was taken with a GoPro Hero5 Black, which gives the picture a slight distortion out toward the edges of the frame.

With Jason bolting one end of the beam to the column, Kenny transverses the beam to bolt the other side. Once the beam is bolted to the column, the crane operator will lower the beam above Kenny’s head, which will be bolted to the columns (the right column is out of the frame) in the foreground.

With the last beam of the bundle placed, Kenny (left) and Jason (right) take a short break.

WITH THE NORTHEAST NODE SET– THE BUILDING’S STEEL SUPPORT BEAMS WILL SOON SPAN THE LENGTH OF THE NORTH SIDE OF THE PIT,  WALL TO WALL, FROM THE EAST TO THE WEST.

On the first day of Spring, albeit cloudy, excitement was in the air. The heaviest node weighing approximately 165,000 lbs. was scheduled to arrive.

With a pilot truck in the front (out of frame) and one at the rear, the largest and heaviest node (approximately weighing 165,000 pounds) stops on Anderson Street so that the 24-wheel trailer bed can be raised enough to avoid bottoming out on the short steep incline as the semi driver rolls through the gate and positions the truck, which will be unloaded on the northeast corner of the pit.

With the trailer bed raised, the semi truck driver makes a slow wide turn into the construction site.

Once the trailer is on the lot, it is positioned so that the node can be offloaded and dropped in place on the northeast corner isolator.

After the node is slowly lifted above the trailer bed, the boom of the crane will turn slowly and steadily lower the node over the edge of the cap slab and down into the pit. For the node to be aligned exactly where it will be bolted to the isolator, the crane operator must rely on a spotter down on the foundation mat.

Over the side and almost down.

TOUCHDOWN: The northeast node, the largest and heaviest of the nodes, is being centered on the largest isolator and isolator base.

By late morning of March 24, 2018, the large steel beams, along the north side of the pit, had been set: wall to wall, from the east to the west. Once approximately 16 more support beams have been set, section three (3) will be ready for decking and the three-story columns. There is a possibility that this can be completed by March 30. If all goes well, it could be that section four (4) will be completed by the end of April, resulting in all of the mat floor (“B” level) being completely covered by steel and metal decking.

From the third floor decking, a view of the renowned Loma Linda Sanitarium site (center) that graced the hill (mound) overlooking the San Bernardino Valley and mountains.

The Medical Center as photographed from the third-floor decking.

A view of the west section of the second floor looking through the building from the south to the north.

At the left is a cross-section view of three floors (“A” level, ground floor, and second floor). From the “A” level decking several three-story columns have been set with an array of primary and secondary cross beams stabilizing the columns.

The mat floor, steel beams, columns, and the east wall as viewed from the southeast cap slab.