The Week of April 15, 2018–Three Stages of Construction Progress

The week of April 15 (the work week began on Sunday), turned out to be a momentous week! The week produced three stages of weather: partly cloudy (warm); sunny (warmer); and cloudy (cooler with a few rain drops). As for the construction progress, there was also three stages: the installation of the man lift was completed, which included passing inspection; the final column in section three was set allowing for the decking to be scattered (laid out) on floors  two and three; and most encouraging, fourteen three-story columns and three two-two story columns were set along with the attaching girders and beams. Most of the fourth-floor decking on this section was scattered, and the bundled decking for the fifth floor was boomed up to be scattered next week. Since this week was rather significant, I thought it might be fun to break this weeks blog into three stages, beginning first with the weather and its three stages followed by the constructions three stages. Then the blog will end with a few odds and ends to round out the week.

Note: some of the stages run concurrently.

Loma Linda Weather Chart for the Week of April 15, 2018

Note: the three stages of the work week are listed at the top of the chart (Red, Blue, and Lime) just below the time of day. The weather for the week began with partly cloudy skies on Monday (accompanied by winds on Monday afternoon) and Tuesday. Wednesday was sunny with few morning clouds. Thursday was partly cloudy with slight winds in the afternoon. Friday was sunny.

Stage One–The Man Lift Installation Completed

Sunday (15th) and Monday (16th)

The man lift had to be completed and then approved by the inspector before the steel columns could be set above the third floor.
Note: For more photos on the installation of the man lift see: The Man Lift–Another in the Series of “How Do They Do That?”

Stage Two–Completing the Columns, Girders, Beams, and Metal Decking on Section Three

Sunday (15th), Monday (16th), Tuesday (17th), and Wednesday (18th)

On Sunday, April 15, 2018, a semi-truck, hauling a three-story 75,000-pound box column, rolled into the yard. This column, when set, would be the last column for section three. By the end of the week when all of the decking has been scattered over the steel skeleton, section three will equal the level of sections one and two.

Just prior to off loading the large column off of the flatbed, the ironworkers and one of the crane operators gather to discuss the best way to lift and drop the large column into place. Everyone must be on the same page.  Although, the “flying” distance is not that far, extra care must be taken since the column is set next to the eastern foundation wall.

Off loading the 75,000-pound beam. dEp video freeze-frame.

Lowering the heavy column to the ground. dEp video freeze-frame.

Once on the ground, the ironworkers hooked the column up with the heavy cables in preparation for dropping it into place. As the column is lifted one can see how large it is. dEp video freeze-frame.

The column pedestal on which the column will be set. This particular column is anchored to the largest base isolator in the project. The cap slab to the far left is approximately twenty-feet above the steel pedestal.

How to offload and set a three-story, 75,000-pound box column in less than three minutes.

Jason (left) and Kenny (right) nudge the heavy column into place.

In Place: The 75,000-pound column rest on the column base and will now be bolted to the sheer plates before the crane disconnects from the column. The welders will spend about a week welding the two columns together after which a steel plate similar to the one cut in the blog: “Cutting Steel in One Easy Lesson,” will be welded over the facing and backside horizontal depressions. Note: The photograph is a tad out of focus due to the fact that I was unable to properly set up the shot.

Stage Three–The Steel Rises Another Three Floors.*

Tuesday (17th), Wednesday (18th), Thursday (19th), Friday (20th)

* With the erection of these three-floor columns, the structural steel when completed at the fifth floor, will reach the total height of the podium from which the two towers will rise.

Everyone on site was hoping that first of the three-story columns would be set on Sunday afternoon. But that would not happen: The man lift mechanics were still working on the lifts by mid afternoon. Once the mechanics were done, the inspector would need to sign off that the lift passed inspection. Once this was done on Monday a number of things had to be accomplished before the first column was set. One of the most important things to do was to shake out (sort) all the steel in the yard that had been delivered. Normally after the shake out had been completed, the steel would be lifted to the area where they would be set. With the steel going up another three-floors, a new staging area was being prepared on the third floor corrugated metal decking. Bundles of steel (girders and beams) would be lifted to the third-floor where they would be sorted and hoisted sequentially in place. Only the columns would be lifted one by one at set in place. By the time all of this was accomplished it was late morning before the first three-story column was set on the third-floor column base.

The third-floor, the day before the new columns would be set.

Some of the steel beams and girders lying in the staging yard, which will be bundled and lifted to the third floor.

Early in the day necessary tools and supplies needed for the new third-floor staging area were hoisted up in preparation for the big day. From the bottom: an extension ladder, steel cable, a KNAACK storage-master box, and welding equipment.

One of the many bundles of steel is lifted up to the north side of the third floor where it will be lowered and sorted.

Third-floor staging area.

Before the first column is set above the third-floor, the FAA requires solar lights to be placed on the highest columns. One of the lights is shown in the photo above.

Also, before the columns could be lifted above the third floor, the wagon had to be attached to the crane. Tommy, one of the crane operators(left) and one of the welders have started the forty-five minute procedure.

Perfect Timing: Perched on the southwest landing over looking the third-floor decking, I had a birds eye view of the mountains to the north and the Medical Center towers to the left. After snapping a photo of the helicopter, I realized that the first column (upper right corner) was making its way high above the third-floor decking.

The first column to be set above the third-floor decking nears placement.

Jason and Kenny (on the other side of the column) steady the column before it is lifted in place.

The first column stands alone: floors three (current decking), four, and five. Above the top of the column will be the flat roof of the podium.

Odds and Ends For the Week

As I traversed “B” level  from the north side to the south side, I ran into Kevin, a pipe fitter, who was laying out the positions for the fixed mechanical and seismic hanging brackets.

Kevin looks at his computer screen as he pinpoints the various layout positions.