The Week of October 14, 2019 — The Project as Seen From AFar and Around the Site, Plus a Sneak Peek at the Fifth Floor.
The Towers rise tall over the east valley: The featured image was taken along San Timoteo Canyon Rd. just south of Barton road. To the south of the elevator tower (the tallest tower) one can see the northeast corner of the Children’s Hospital tower. To the right of the Adult Hospital tower, one can see the upper levels of the Research Wing, which branches off of the main Medical Center towers.
What better way to start this post then to include an Aerial view of the Loma Linda University Health campus. The following video was filmed by Loma Linda University Health, Advancement Films in September 2019. The video is used with permission.
A magnificent video: Enjoy!
Behind the Security Fence — Making My Rounds Around the Grounds
When I enter the site from Anderson Street, Jack the gatekeeper is there to greet me with a fist bump, a high five or when he is in a good mood, the slow sign. But when he is in a really good mood, I get the stop sign. One of Jack’s responsibilities is to regulate delivery trucks that are allowed on site. For example, the large delivery trucks are not allowed (there are a few exceptions) to enter the site before two-o’clock in the afternoon, which is the time most of the heavy equipment shuts down for the day. Smaller trucks that don’t have to compete with the heavy equipment are allowed on site as long as the gates are open.This smaller delivery truck is being offloaded in the east yard.Further south on the east side of the structure is the staging yard. There is a lot of traffic in this area with forklifts and other equipment going up and down the hill delivering materials and supplies to various locations around the structure.The Service road that parallels Barton Road (outside of the safety fence) and the south side of the building.Zooming in on the featured image from inside the security fence one sees the southeast corner of the Children’s Hospital, and what will be, when completed in the foreground, the adult emergency department’s drop-off and parking area. Also in the foreground, pipefitters are preparing a natural gas pipe, which will be lowered into a nearby trench.This area (center and center-right) will be the emergency department ambulance parking area. The narrow horizontal structure above the scaffolding (center-right) is the ambulance canopy.Farther west, just beyond the heavy equipment, a trench for the storm drain is being backfilled and compacted. The area to the right and to the west will be the Children’s emergency department drop-off and parking area. A little further down the south yard, I came upon, what looked like to me, a deep hole in the ground. When I Peered over the edge of the retaining wall, I expected to see more pipes. I wasn’t prepared for what I saw.Approximately 16-feet below grade, there as a smart vibratory trench roller/compactor going back and forth from edge to edge. Look something like a gerbil attempting to escape its cage.Although this image was taken the previous week, it is appropriate to include this transitional photo in the post in that it shows the western edge of the Children’s emergency departments drop-off and parking area. The image shows the just completed retaining wall, which sweeps to the north. The retaining curving to the north delineates the western edge of the structure.Storm drain pipes that connect to the pipes in “A” level.On the opposite side of the service road, the east end storm drain flex pipe is joined along with the west end storm drain flex pipe via a “Y” connector, which takes the water out to the cities storm drain system. A flex storm drain pipe is being hoisted from the floor of level “B” to the ceiling of level “A” where it will be connected to the exterior storm drain that runs into the city service pipes.As one turns the corner alongside the concrete retaining wall, one is confronted by the three-story pedestrian bridge that will connect the two structures. The ground level will be used for emergency access. The height of the ground level is approximately 13-feet high, which will allow for a fire truck to easily pass under. The second story connects with the new diagnostic imaging, radiological/imaging, nuclear medicine, general x-ray, CT, MRI, and the emergency departments for both pediatrics and adults. The third floor will connect to surgical services.
A Shout-out to the Welders!
As I got closer to the tunnel and the steel frame, I knew there was welding going on: I could hear the crackling, see the sparks, and the pungent odor of bleach or iron oxide.Four diesel welding generators and an air compressor are needed for the welding project.Just getting started!White bust with sparks!Awkward Position!Red Hot!Welding at the roof of the tunnel!Concrete will be poured over the corrugated metal, which will form the top of the tunnel. The roof of the tunnel must be strong enough to support a fire truck.The northwest yard facing south toward Barton Road.Turning 180-degrees and facing Schuman Pavilion, the west yard continues.The reflection in the second-floor pop-out (northwest corner of the building) caught my attention as I continued my walk in the west yard.Until recently this area was part of the Medical Center’s drop-off and turnaround. Now it is part of the north yard.The north yard facing east to the northeast corner of the yard. To the center-right will be the galleria and main entrance class covered canopy. The drop-off/ accessible passenger loading zone and turnaround area will be directly in front. Valet parking will be available at this location.Beyond the main entrance, tradesmen work on the cap slap installing the nose pieces that the moat pans rest against.We end the tour around the building site at the northeast corner of the yard.
The Emergency Generator Plant — Update
After the field trip around the main construction site, this next section update will take us to the site of the future emergency generator pant, which is a long block to the north. This area located on the corner of Taylor Street and Taylor Court was, until recently, the property on which the Endodontics building sat. It was demolished, the ground was cleared, two diesel fuel tanks were put in the ground. Recently, the property was graded and work on the building has begun. Two tasks must be completed before construction can begin on the building. First, the underground electrical conduit must be laid between the emergency generator plant. The conduits will terminate in the underground electrical vault. This vault (the second task) must be completed before the concrete pad is poured. Upon entering the construction gate, excavation was underway at the corner of Taylor Street and Taylor Court. The excavators had dug a trench across Taylor Street to where the trench would turn east and end at the west side of the concrete electrical vault.
By Tuesday, October 15, 2019, the excavators were making progress trenching across Taylor Street.The excavation makes a turn at Taylor Street and Taylor Court. At this point, there are a number of underground pipes that the excavators had to workaround.Two days before the concrete pour, the carpenters are working on the outside walls and the bracing.On the other side of Taylor Street, two workmen craw in the trench to set the conduit spacers. The spacers must be set at a specified distance below grade.Conduits for the underground high-voltage electrical line that will run from the emergency generator electrical vault to the “A” level main electrical emergency power room located in the podium under the replacement hospital towers.Wires that will run in these conduits will be connected to the emergency power generators and will most likely be connected to transformers and switchgear.Halfway down the west side of the emergency generator site, two conduits run underground from the university power plant. Perhaps these conduits carry the lines that will activate the emergency switches when the power goes off? just to the right are the two diesel fuel tanks.The southwest corner of the electrical vault. The bent rebar represents the level of the concrete pad.The electrical vault (lower left) as viewed facing south toward the Adult Hospital tower and the existing Medical center towers.
Miscellaneous Updates
The Schuman Pavilion Pedestrian Bridge
Tradesmen from the glass company are doing layout for the soon-to-be-installed windows.As I walked under the Schuman Pavilion Pedestrian bridge, I heard the familiar sound of a helicopter warming up for takeoff from the north helipad. As I waited to snap the image, a forklift passed in front of my lens. I was lucky to get this photo.
The First Floor: The Serving Area
The serving area: In this room, there are three (3) work areas and food displays, hot display, display cooler, and a food prep area.Another view facing the southeast section of the serving room.
A Sneak Peek at the Fifth Floor: The San Manuel Maternity Pavilion
An upcoming post will feature an update on the fifth floor affectionately known as the San Manuel Maternity Pavilion. On October 17, 2019, I walked around the floor and was happy to see that approximately two-thirds of the floor was drywalled. I was able to capture a few images with the camera that I was using at the time, but they didn’t provide the images I had hoped for. I will have a different camera that will allow for a wider angle.
Facing East: In this section, there are a total of 12 postpartum rooms; Seven north of the corridor and five south of the corridor.The northeast corridor facing west.
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 🔨
when will the steel that will connect the schumann to the new hospital and the new schuman elevator building as well as the steel that connects the hospital to hospital walk ways to the buildings be put in?
Dennis E. Park, MA
Most likely after the windows have been installed. The type of connectors will be installed by the company that is installing the moat covers. These connectors will be seismic floor expansion joint covers.
when will the steel that will connect the schumann to the new hospital and the new schuman elevator building as well as the steel that connects the hospital to hospital walk ways to the buildings be put in?
Most likely after the windows have been installed. The type of connectors will be installed by the company that is installing the moat covers. These connectors will be seismic floor expansion joint covers.