The Week of July 27, 2020 — Covid-19 Continues, The Main Lobby, an Information Desk, a CT Scanner Being Tested, and More

The featured image of the Dennis and Carol Trosch Medical Campus towers was not taken from the usual straight on east elevation angle. Rather, the photo was taken at the corner of Anderson Street and Prospect Avenue. From this perspective, the new hospital towers dwarf the iconic cloverleaf towers of the Loma Linda University Medical Center.

Every time I enter the site, I see new signs that the project is coming together. As one of the on-site managers stated: “Each day brings us closer to completion, but at the same time new headaches pop up, but we’re up to the challenge!”

The latest Covid-19 report dated July 27, 2020. Unfortunately a dear friend is one of the 459,195 cases in California. We are PRAYING for a full and speedy recovery!!

KUDOS TO TWO BAPKO METAL, INC. GOOD SAMARITANS

It was late in the afternoon a few weeks ago when I stopped at the light on Barton Road and Anderson Street. On the sidewalk, to my right, 20 to 30 laborers waited for the light to change. As they stepped off the curb and into the crosswalk, a young lady, pushing a special needs child in a modified wheelchair, headed towards them. For whatever reason, the front wheels got stuck as she tried to move to the side. As she struggled with the chair, the crowd intent on getting to the parking lot was fast approaching, and soon enveloped her. Some slowed and stepped aside as they continued on their way. Suddenly, two men in the group stopped, placed their lunch pails on the asphalt, and approached the woman. Without saying a word, they lifted the wheelchair over the rough spot and sat the wheelchair down. The mom, quick by their side, smiled and mouthed the words “thank you” and continued on her way. As the two men retrieved their pails, I could see their company’s name emblazoned on the back of their safety vests: “Bapko Metal, Inc.” After that unforgettable experience, I get a lump in my throat each time I stop for the light at Barton Road and Anderson Street! Yes, Mable, there are some good people left in this old world!!!! Thank you, GENTLEMEN, from Bapko Metal, for making my day!

— Dennis E. Park, MA

A Shout-Out to Those Who Labor at the Loma Linda University Health Campus Transformation Project

Each week the website will feature some of the crew who are working hard as the project begins to wind down.

Premiere Engineering and Grading Contrs., have been at the site from day one of the construction project. The NOVA Drywall Systems, Inc. came on site when the buildout started on Level “A.” Tammy and Ski just finished the grading on the east parking lot and now their crew has begun work on the north side where the Canopy will be erected. They are also overseeing the grading, forming and the concrete pour on the west end of the building. Angel (left) and Efren are hanging drywall in the Schuman Pavilion elevator tower.

The Galleria Main Entrance as Viewed Before the Canopy Columns are Set

The main entrance double door opening in the center of the glass-paneled Galleria. Notice the reflections in the glass.

A CT Scanner Plugged In and Going Through Some Test Cycles

Behind a locked door on the second floor there is a CT Scanner. I had been in the room many times. But, today, the door was locked. As I stood there trying to figure out how I could look at the scanner on the other side of the door, I could hear a low electrical whirring sound emanating from the room. An opening in the door where a window would be installed, a large piece of white construction paper had been taped to the inside. Lucky for me, there was a small gap in the lower left corner. I stuck my camera lens through the hole and took one shot. The above image is what the camera captured: a CT Scanner going through some test cycles.

The Main Lobby and the Information Desk

Upon entering the first floor area today, I encountered a delightful surprise! There before me in the center of the main lobby was a large information desk, which had been placed at the end of last week.

The main lobby with the newly installed information desk at center left.

A closeup of the information desk in the main lobby.

Tower Glass, Inc. installers position tracks for the floor to ceiling glass window panels. Center left of the information desk, there is a public corridor that leads to the Cafeteria and the northeast exit.

A view of the information desk as seen from the east entry of the Galleria.

The East Yard — What a Difference Four Months Make!

All was quiet on the east side today. All the forms for the curbs and islands had been set. Some of the forms had been removed from the curbs and islands that had been filled with concrete on Thursday of last week. As I stood there on the upper level of the yard, I thought back to four months ago, March 16, 2020, when the east yard was a hub of activity. Today, July 27, 2020, the former yard is practically desolate. As I walked through the area, there was an eerie silence.

What was once a hub of activity (left) is now being turned into the east parking lot (right).

Some of the islands and curbs after the concrete was poured and the forms taken off. A narrow concrete trough will be poured at the end of the islands where rain water from the east and west sides of the parking lot will be diverted to flow into an underground storm drain.

Remedial Compaction Correction

The above images of curbs and islands are now just a memory. On the morning of July 29, 2020, the concrete curbs and islands that had been poured were broken up and hauled away. The wooden forms, that had not been filled with concrete, were carefully dismantled and stacked to be used another day. Due to a concern, it was determined that a remedial compaction correction was needed before the east parking lot project could continue. Heavy equipment was brought in to excavate the soil to a certain depth and recompact the soil. The following images shows the compaction process. Within a matter of days, images showing forms, curbs and islands on the east parking lot will appear again on these pages.

Well before 8:00 AM, heavy equipment was toiling the soil on the east side.

A look at the excavation and compaction process in the east yard.

Heavy equipment on top of the soil that was once the top soil for the parking lot. Soon the scraper will distribute the soil and then it will be compacted layer by layer.

The West End — The Corridor Between the Two Hospitals

Nearing the southwest end of the campus, it became apparent why there was no activity on the east side. The forming crew was at work setting forms for curbs and gutters on the west side.

A view from the south end of the corridor.

As I approached the pedestrian bridge, I could tell that the crew had begun forming under the bridge and was working toward the top.

The forms as set under the pedestrian bridge.

Freshly poured concrete under the west side connecting bridge and over the level “A” connecting tunnel. The yellow/greenish color on the concrete is and environmentally friendly chemical used to etch the concrete surface and will be hosed off shortly after its application. Frequently, such surface roughing compounds are used on sidewalks and driveways where there will be foot traffic.

The following day, the concrete was cured enough to allow foot traffic, and support equipment.

On the north side of the bridge, a long broken section to the main water line is in the process of being replaced. This is the area where the temporary Grand Hallway, connecting the Trosch Medical campus with the Medical Center, will be built.

Main water pipe supported by an I-beam before it is encased in concrete. At the right a laborer checks out a storm drain sump.

An overhead view of the northwest section of the west corridor, and the approximate location of the temporary Grand Hallway Canopy. Note the main water pipe bisecting the location.

Exposing the black storm drain and to the right is the main water line.

The soil where the Grand Hallway will be located is being compacted.

The next day (Tuesday, July 28, 2020), the forms for the curbs and gutters were completed and the concrete pour had just begun as arrived.

Behind the loading dock to the right, the concrete crew are at work as the concrete is poured into the forms.

A look at the crew smoothing out the curbs and the concrete truck in the background as it begins the pour on the west side.

Facing south from the connecting bridge, I could tell there was some concrete activity up ahead on the right.

The concrete pour going up the hill to the south where the curbs will connect with existing curbs to the west.

Forms are off from the curbs and gutters.

The sidewalk being troweled and smoothed on the west side of the driveway.

Third Floor Connecting Hallway

Preparing for the Iron Workers to Return — Exposing the Enbeds

The white check marks indicated where the embeds are located. The embeds need to be exposed so that the steel columns for the canopy can be set early next week. Sometime this week, six (6) A/C units (four (4) A/C units (center right) and two (2) out of sight) are scheduled to be lifted, by crane, into the mechanical room above the Galleria. Once the A/C units have been placed, the rest of the embeds in the yard will be exposed.

The first row of embeds have been exposed. Once the columns have been erected, concrete will be poured around the embeds. The concrete canopy flooring will be poured to the level of the Galleria.

Installing the A/C Units Above the Galleria

By 7:20 AM on July 29, 20, the crane had arrived to lift the A/C units in mechanical room above the Galleria.

Boom up! The lifting of the first unit is about to begin

Nine (9) stacked images illustrating the first A/C lift and placement.

The first unit is slid into the mechanical room for placement.

The team in the mechanical room wait for A/C unit No. 3.

Approaching the mechanical room opening.

Inside the mechanical room as the third A/C unit is placed on the rollers.

The platform on which A/C unit No. 3 will be placed.

A/C unit No. 3 rests on the first platform.

A/C unit No. 3 crosses the first platform and is being readied to be transferred the second platform.

The Steel Frame for the Ambulance Screen — South Side

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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