The Week of November 17, 2019 — Concrete, Trenches, and Windows
Project Personalities
Hard Hats, Beards and …
As Rick and I crossed paths in the northeast section of the construction yard, I complimented him on his beard. After chatting a few minutes, the light in my head began to flash… a vignette featuring hard hats and beards would make a head-scratcher of a story for the blog. After striking up a conversation with Rick, he graciously agreed to pose for a photo! One down: At least two more needed for my scheme. As luck would have it, Ed and Jack walked by…voilà, I got my quota: Three Hard Hats and Three Beards!
About the three amigos: Rick is a sheet-metal foreman, Ed is an inspector of record, and Jack is one of the assistant job superintendents.
Query, Would you recognize these gentlemen without their hard hats? To test your skills, scroll down past the next couple of sections.
Meet Two Men Who Were Born in the Loma Linda Medical Center
Daniel, in the above photo, told me that he was born in the Medical Center in 1990. He then added that his sister Maribel was born there in 2002. Daniel, who has been on the job for about five months, said that he always thought the Medical Center was a “big structure,” but now the towers he is working in are “amazing.” I asked him if his children were born in the Medical Center, he said: “no, but my three-year-old son was hospitalized there about a year ago.” He then added, pointing to the Medical Center: ” I can’t wait to tell my children that I was born over there,” and, gesturing to the glass tower behind him, “I worked in there.” John, pictured above, informed me that his responsibility on-site is that of being an “adult babysitter.” He serves as a “gentle reminder.” He reminds the workers on site to follow the PPE rules, which requires everyone on site to wear/use Personal Protective equipment/gear. If they fail to do so, they could lose a full day’s pay. John was born in the Medical Center in April of 1968, which was about 15-months following the opening of the hospital. He said, with a big smile, that when he was born, his mom told him that he “looked like a beach ball because I was so plump.” He related a story about his grandparents talking about being parked in the Loma Linda Hospital parking lot when a strong earthquake rocked the area. According to the Southern California1968 seismic records, the 6.4 Borrego Mountain earthquake occurred on April 9, 1968. The seismic map showed that the quake was felt well beyond the Inland Empire, which included Loma Linda. John, a recent transplant from the Rams Stadium in Inglewood, has been on-site for approximately two-weeks. He told me that there were at least 3,000 construction workers at the site. He also stated that the equipment traffic is so congested there that it takes up to 27 traffic cops to monitor and control the flow. When asked what he liked about working on the campus where he was born, John smiled and said, “it is interesting and unique.”
The Moon, a Helicopter, and a Reflection
The moon seemingly nudges the edge of the existing Children’s Hospital.The helicopter takes off from the Children’s Hospital helipad and heads toward the northwest.Before his photo was taken, Rick brushed out his beard. I guess Ed didn’t get the memo. He forgot to shave his head.
The South Yard — Update
Down in a trench, near the emergency department, where pipefitters are installing pipes that include domestic water, oxygenated water, natural gas, and conduits for electrical wires. This pipe and conduit trench is aligned east to west, parallel to the emergency department.The concrete storm drain junction is covered with heavy steel in preparation for the rainstorm that was predicted.
The Tunnel Roof — Update
Pouring the concrete on the top of the tunnel, scheduled for the early morning of November 18, 2019, was postponed one day and will be poured around 2:00 AM on Tuesday. November 19, 2019.
Preparing the corrugated steel for the upcoming concrete pour. Below four (4) carpenters are working in the tunnel.Looking into the tunnel from level “A.”Inside of the tunnel, the four (4) carpenters confer on the step in securing the inside forms. Facing the existing Children’s Hospital at level “A.”Inside the tunnel facing the new hospital at level “A.”
The Tunnel is Now a Tunnel as the Concrete Top was Poured…the Two Structures are now Joined at Level “A”
A finisher sprays a sealant on the concrete.Another view of the top of the tunnel, which is near grade. In this image, the podium for the new hospital towers is in the background.The east connecting floors (floors two and three) are exposed as the white tarp is pulled back. Carpenters were building a frame to attach the tarp to before the impending rainstorm arrived.After the rainstorm, and after the concrete had a chance to cure for a few days, the carpenter’s began to remove the forms.
Slinking Around Level “A”
East-west corridor: the floor has received a primer coat.Four (4) elevators in the center of the level “A” just east of the Main Electrical Emergency Power room.Two (2) kitchen elevators that are located south of the Adult Kitchen and north of the Children’s kitchen. The two-stop elevators will run between level “A” and the first-floor dining room.The central corridor on Level “A” is covered with a sealant before the primer is applied.
The Emergency Generator Plant — Update
Facing East: Pipes are being laid out above the diesel tanks.Facing West: Another view of the pipes laid out over the diesel tanks.A newly dug electrical conduit trench.On the east side of the emergency generator electrical vault approximately 10 conduits are stubbed out above grade.Conduits that run to the new hospital complex have now been connected to the emergency generator plant electrical vault, which is under construction.The electrical conduit trench that runs to the new hospital’s main electrical emergency room, which is located on level “A.” The last section of an electrical conduit trench that dug down Taylor Court and crossed through Taylor street is being covered with asphalt. Mike (crouching at the left), an engineer, is performing a Nuclear Density meter to test the soil density and moisture content.A closeup of Mike and his Nuclear testing machine.
Meanwhile in the East Construction Yard
The construction yard on the east side of the site is a high-traffic area. Heavy equipment and tractor tailor trucks are in and out of this section during the day.Apparently a large piece of equipment exceeded the weight limit and broke a couple of water pipes in this junction box, which is located in the lower section of the yard.My friend Reuben, who I often see driving a forklift around the east construction yard, and pretends to be camera shy when he sees the camera.
The Schuman Pavilion Pedestrian Bridge — Update
With tarps under the bridge, the crew is cleaning up after fireproofing (Monokote) the steel on the Schuman Pavilion pedestrian bridge.
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 🔨
Is the pour at grade?