The Week of July 30, 2018–The First Column for the Children’s Hospital Was Set

The First Column for the Kids

On or  about 10:23 AM, on July 30,2018, the first column for the Children’s Hospital tower was lifted off the ground by the south crane. The crane’s 250 foot boom hoisted the two-story column and slowly swung it over the metal decking toward the the southwest end of the structure. and was gradually lowered toward the base. Unfortunately the column slid behind the columns set for the elevator tower. Between the steel columns, I was able to get a glimpse of the first column for the Children’s Hospital tower being steadied by an ironworker. After gathering my gear, I took the man lift to the ground floor and headed for my car. My goal was to get to the top of parking structure P4 in time to see the second column being lifted into place. Luckily, I made it just in time. The second part of the video shows the liftoff from the ground, the slow arc over the decking, and the seating of the column into its base. The feature photo for this post depicts the first column, with the south Loma Linda hills in the background, rises above the south podium.

Upon arriving at the site, I immediately headed for the southeast corner of the structure. For if the steel columns had arrived, I was quite certain some of the steel columns would be set during the day. Seeing some columns lying on the ground, I knew we had a chance. After some inquiring, I learned that the first column would be hoisted into place “shortly.” Not knowing what “shortly” meant, I made my way to the sixth floor via the man lift to get a first row seat.

Just left of the frame, on the sixth floor,  is where I sat to take the photos and video of the first column of the Children’s Hospital tower swoop over the podium and lowered onto the base.

It wasn’t too long after I arrived on the decking, I observed the cranes slack cable go taunt and the boom move ever so slightly. As the load crested the podium, I was disappointed to see two oxygen tanks for the welder dangling from the end of the cable.

After dropping off the O2 tanks, the boom arched toward the “bone yard” where the columns were lying on the ground. About five minutes later, the Children’s Hospitals first tower column rose above the podium and began the leisurely journey along the south side of the structure on its way to the base on which it will be set and bolted.

The Children’s Hospital’s first tower column begins it slow decent to the base.

As the first column of the Children’s Hospital slips behind the elevator tower an ironworker carries a roll of wire on the eight floor. On the sixth floor a welder is hard at work welding a huge box column. Soon the columns will rise at the left of the photo obstructing the view of the south Loma Linda hills.

The yellow arrow points to where an ironworker is carefully guiding the column onto its base.

Just prior to exiting the gate, I turned around and took one last photo from the southeast side of the site. There she was, the first column (in the red ellipse just to the right of the American flag) still connected to the crane’s umbilical cord.

Arriving on the top floor of P4, I quickly exited the car with camera in hand. Looking down over the parapet, I could see the cable still tethered to the cable. All I needed now was one more shot and then the column would stand on its own waiting to be tied to the other columns, infill beams, and girders to form the skeleton on which the skin of the hospital will hang keeping out the elements of the young patients who will be treated behind the walls.

The cord is ejected from the column. The cord rises in the air, and the column stands alone on its own. Soon it will be joined by the second column.

The Second Column for the Kids

Within a matter of minutes, the second column was airborne to take its place in line with the first column.

The second column is carefully maneuvered on to the base by two ironworkers.

The first two columns were clearly visible at the corner of Anderson Street and Barton Road.

A view from the LLU Webcam Camera number 3: Notice that the ironworkers began on the inside bay of the Children’s Hospital. The yellow arrow points to the base of the first column set. The first has the infills hung and before quitting time the second bay will have its infills hung.

Photos of Two Steel Structures —

One From the Century Past and the Other From the Century Present

Before we got to far down the metal decking as the steel columns for the Children’s Hospital are raised, I thought it would be appropriate to portray the current Children’s hospital (circa 1991) while it was still in its “steel” stage (inset). The finished structure of the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital a building of the twentieth-century is positioned in the lower left corner facing the steel structure of the twenty-first century. The inset photo is courtesy of the Loma Linda University Heritage Room.

The site with two steel towers going up. The adult hospital goes straight at the west end while the Children’s Hospital begins at a one bay step in.

The Video

A Very Memorable Day

This important video was shot at two locations: The first section was captured from the sixth floor decking. The second part of the video was shot from the patient parking structure P4. It was quite exciting to watch the first two columns for the Children’s Hospital being set. From now on, the process will be repeated time and again until both hospitals top out.

A New Month Begins — August 1, 2018

I began my rounds on the first day of August on the top of Parking Structure P4 to get a birds eye view of the project. My second stop was the “B” level (the basement) where I could cool off. Down in the basement there were electricians and pipe fitters wearing head lamps. Reminded me of the coal miners down deep in the mines where it is cool and dark. From the basement, I worked my way up to “A” level where the whole west section of the floor was humming like Santa’s workshop on the day before Christmas.

The View From P4

“B” Level

The Electricians

My first encounter down in the basement was with three electricians who were huddled over a small dimly lit table. I seems they were discussing where to run the next string of conduit. Not wanting to interrupt their deep discussion, I pressed on deeper into the dark.

There it was a manifold of electrical pipes going up the level “A.” The run of the conduit, which can be seen at the center left and then curves to the left.   I was surprised how long the run was.

The five conduits that hang on racks running down the center of the photo and bends to the left.

Did I see this conduit run in some other life? The configuration of the ducting/conduits seemed very familiar. Yes, back 11.16.16, I took many photos of long runs and sweeps that were laid anywhere from three to six feet below grade. After the ducting was laid, the trenches were covered with concrete, followed by dirt back up to grade. After the foundation was poured the ducting in this photo is about seven feet below the foundation floor and approximately ten feet below the run in the above photo.

Like the LA Freeway system there was an area where two sections came together after the long run of conduit. The five conduits at the left were connected to the manifold in the previous photo. The three conduits to the right were still in the connection stage.

Following the run of the eight conduits, I found them going up the foundation wall. Of the eight main conduits, only four had been connected.

The Pipe Fitters

On the north side of the basement, the pipe fitters, not to be out done by the electricians, were hanging pipes as well. MUCH bigger pipes. In this photo we see a pipe fitter going over the plans.

The diameter of these pipes are sixteen (16) inches. Once welded, the pipes are hung on large racks and hangers.

A large rack at the left and a pipe hanger center right.

The touch of the welder’s rod. Just a few feet away from where the large sixteen inch pipes were lying a welder was welding away connecting two section of pipe. The light caused by the contact of the rod with the pipe makes it appear as if it were a laser beam.