The PROTOTYPE That Served a Purpose

If you have been at the intersection of Barton Road and Anderson Street sometime during the last 15 months, you might of seen it rising just above the security fence as illustrated in the feature image. The building, not much larger than a two story garage has generated some speculation. One of the most plausible suggestions is that the structure is the first section of the Children’s Hospital to be completed. To end the speculation, this post will take the reader behind the security fence and unveil the mystery building known as the prototype or mock-up.

In the latter part of 2017, laborers began to dig footings near the southeast section of the construction site near the corner of Barton Road and Anderson Street. The location was at the quarter turn of the sometimes paved one-lane gravel road on which the heavy construction equipment rumbled from one side of the construction site to the other.

The Site in the Bend of the Road Where the Prototype Would be Built

*The southeast corner of the construction site where the water truck is parked would be the location of the prototype.*

*The crane lumbers past the spot where the prototype would be constructed.*

I assumed that the digging was for a concrete pad to support another electrical transformer. My supposition, made sense as there were a number of transformers in the area. I knew more transformers would be coming in to be set on the pads that had been poured. few days later as I made my rounds, I noticed the footings were more substantial than the ones for the electrical pads.

Its Construction

The footings in the foreground at the bend of the road. Note that the prototype’s footings are in the exact same alignment as the new structures foundation. The reason will become self evident in future images of this post.

*How the concrete slab appeared after the footing forms were removed. Notice the electrical transformers and empty transformer pad.*

My suspicions were confirmed after the concrete forms were removed. This concrete pad was not like the other transformer pads. It appeared to be a foundation for some sort of structure. Why only three sides? I mused. A few days later, I inquired of a laborer working around the area if he knew anything about the concrete foundation. “All, I know,” he replied, “it is for a prototype or something.” With that bit of information, he walked toward the metal storage sheds pushing a wheelbarrow full of tools. Not knowing much more than before asking the question, I continued making my rounds.

As I rounded the turn a couple of days later, I noticed there had been some activity around the concrete pad. It was evident Iron worker had been there erecting steel columns and setting still beams. The steel wasn’t large, but it was apparent that whatever was being built needed to support some weight.

*A portion of the steel frame that had been erected. After seeing this, I knew the structure would be used for something substantial.*

In the next few days more steel was added, precisely and strategically, to areas that would support the weight of the yet to be revealed prototype.

*A view of the south elevation of the prototype.*

The northeast elevation of the steel frame, and the absence of steel on the north side.

A few days later the iron workers returned and completed the steel frame: At least all the steel lying in the yard was gone. But there seemed to be a problem, three quarters of the north side was lacking steel. What kind of structure could this be? Could this be all there is to the skeleton of the prototype? I wondered to myself.

For a number of days there was no activity around the steel frame at the crook of the quarter turn. Then, two days after Christmas a different crew showed up with two slabs of what I thought might be lite beige of concrete panels.

*On the south elevation one panel was hung, and on the east side, the second panel was hung.*

The lite beige panels of concrete turned out to be GFRC (Glass fiber Reinforced Concrete) panels, so I was told by the one of the assistant job superintendents, who also explained the panels were samples of the GFRC exteriors that would be installed on the steel frame of the hospitals. These two panels were the beginning of the prototype….

*Checking it out. . . with the the panels properly installed, two of the foremen discuss the days work.*

. . . . of how the exterior of the new hospitals would appear when completed. It was also explained to me that such prototypes were now common place for owners and contractors to partner because in the end such prototypes or mock-ups saves money and time. I was told that these prototypes can cost the owner anywhere between a quarter and a half million dollars. Prototypes allow the various subcontractors, who in many cases have not worked with each other or worked with the materials that the architects and or engineers have specified. The materials mock-ups allow the contractors to determine how the various materials and fixtures connect together and how they react to the elements once installed. Periodic tests allow the contractors to make adjustments prior to the final fabrications and/or before installation, thus saving valuable time and money.

*Additional GFRC panels are added to the frame.*

Eleven days into the the new year (2018) more panels had been added to the frame. In retrospect, I now see the GFRC panels used in the prototype now being installed on the structural frame of the current project.

I soon leaned that the mock-up did not apply solely with the exterior. Such testing including some interior applications as well.

*A laborer applies calking to flashing that is applied between the concrete and the GFRC panels.*

As the days progressed, I noticed more material and fixtures being added to the mock-up. The interior corner framed with metal studs appeared to be a mock-up of how corners were framed with drywall hung.

Its Purpose

*A laborer installs a shower floor waterproof membrane.*

*After the waterproof membrane was laid, tile went up on the two walls.*

*Two workers from the window subcontractor prepare to hang a window on the steel frame.*

*The Tower Windows Laborers hang a Dichroic glass panel.*

*By February 5, 2018, the prototype’s exterior was pretty much assembled.*

*A laborer sprays water around the window to test the seal.*

*The prototype structure with the Dichroic glass.*

A close up of the south elevation: By the time this image was taken the exterior fixtures were installed. From this angle and time of day the Dichroic glass fins provided a kaleidoscope of color. The existing Children’s Hospital is now obscured by the steel for the new Children’s Hospital tower.

*On the west side of prototype structure a number of vent pipes were added to the roof mockup.*

*A close up image of the prototype structure as viewed from the rear.*

*The prototype as seen from the eighth-floor of the Children’s Hospital. In a few weeks the structure will be razed. It has served its purpose.*

Its Purpose Achieved Demolition Begins

*Assistant job superintendent John (jack) Kay III took this photo as the excavator went to work on the prototype.*

*Aside from the concrete foundation, the steel from the west wall is all that is left.*

*The bone pile of scrap metal, GFRC, and other salvageable material.*

*With the steel gone all that is left is the concrete foundation.*

*By March 22, 2019, the prototype was reduced to rubble–chunks of concrete– as viewed from the height of the Children’s Hospital roof.*

Facing northwest: The bend in the road where the prototype stood.

Facing northeast: The bend in the road where the prototype stood.

With the exterior of the towers nearing completion, the work of the prototype is finished. It served its purpose. Now it is time to recycle its material.

From the fall of 2017 to the spring of 2019

Dennis E. Park, MA

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 🔨

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2 Comments

Dennis Schall
it is amazing to me the different archetercial styles in the building. I think i count 6
- Dennis E. Park, MA
  
  You are correct, I will be posting something about the styles maybe even today. Thanks for noticing. I think the styes make the project a bit more interesting.
  
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