The Main Entrance Canopy, a larger metaphor for the Institutions Motto: “To Make Man Whole”

The Laurel Leaves Theme Discovered

I first noticed the laurel leaves on an Anderson Street monument sign. They appeared on the arrival signs, and then I found them on the patient rooms’ headwall. I remembered seeing leaves on some of the University Church material. On November 11, 2020, as I entered the Adult Emergency Departments’ waiting room, a wallcovering on the north wall greeted me. It was a modern art rendering of tree trunks, branches, and laurel leaves. Murals on the Wall as Well as Other Wall and Ceiling Treatments It was then that I figured out there must be a campus-wide laurel leaf theme, duh! I was happy to have figured that out.

My jubilation was short-lived. Though the theme figured prominently in many of the hallways, on selected walls, and the headwalls on every floor, I was soon to add another feature to the laurel leaves theme. This discovery was a serendipitous find at its best. I had gone to the north side of the project to photograph a couple of the Main Entrance Columns for a story in this particular blog. As I snapped the shutter for the last photo, I saw it. Wanting to confirm what I had seen through the viewfinder, I lowered the camera and gazed at the Main Entrance Canopy. Stepping back and moving slightly to the left from where I had been standing, I took in the panoramic view from one end to the other. Sure enough, there they were: Columns that symbolized tree trunks and curved trellis supports representing branches. Why had it taken me so long to notice the trees and their laurel branches? Perhaps, I wondered, could it be that the Main Entrance Canopy is a larger metaphor for the physical, mental, and spiritual healing summed up in the institution’s motto “To Make Man Whole.”

Upon returning to my office, I referred to the Logomark of Loma Linda University Health. Surrounding the logomark subgroups, “an oak branch to the left of the shield “represents the civic wreath of oak leaves and acorns historically given to one who saved a life.” The laurel branch to the right of the shield “represents the laurel wreath, which signifies achievement and honor. Shown together, the oak and laurel branches form a wreath suggesting that the life-saving and life-enhancing work of the health sciences brings with it an obligation to act honorably, courageously, and selflessly.” The laurel leaf theme on the Dennis and Carol Troesh Medical Campus will be complete once the university’s logo is anchored in front of the “Loma Linda University Medical Center” letters.

Postscript: No doubt this laurel leaves theme had been thought out, way back when, by the architects, interior designers, and the leadership. Having not been privy to any of the discussions, I hope, as a photojournalist, to have confirmed their imaginative thematic story.

How Do They Do That?

The Rest of the Story — More Than Paint

This segment was to be the feature for this blog. As it turns out, it takes a back seat to the laurel leaves theme. Interesting, nonetheless. A few days ago, it occurred to me that it seemed as if it was taking a long time to paint the Main Entrance Canopy. Up and down and all around, the painters sprayed and sprayed. Seemingly, it appeared, they were getting nowhere fast.

A day or two later, I noticed some penciled numbers on one of the columns. I didn’t pay any attention to them as I was making my way to another area. On the way home, I began thinking about the numbers. Why would there be numbers on paint? I mused. The next day, I made it a point to stop by the canopy and hopefully get an answer. Unfortunately, all of the painters were up in the air, and it didn’t appear they would be coming down to terra firma anytime soon.

On the way home, it hit me. They weren’t painting the columns. They have been spraying some sort type of application that required a certain thickness. What was the application if it wasn’t a paint base material? Upon arriving at the site today (11.23.20), I headed straight for the canopy in hopes of getting some information. Lucky for me, “Da Boss” (so it said on his helmet) was there. I asked him if the numbers on the columns had to do with a required thickness, and if so, was it paint or some other coating?

“Da Boss” looked at the columns and said: “This ain’t paint. It is a fire-resistance coating that CAL Osha requires. This type of coating has been mandated on all steel ever since 9/11.” It is similar to the Monokote fire-resistance material we sprayed on the steel in the building. Because this steel is exposed to the elements, it has a different (paint-like) finish.” He then backtracked and asked if I remembered the grey primer coat that had been sprayed on the steel before they began this application. I told him that I took several photos of the steel during the priming stage. “Well, this coating they are spraying now must be applied evenly to the approved tie-coat primer, and it must be a certain thickness.” He went on to tell me that “with this structure, the minimum thickness is 92 mils.”

Determining the Thickness of the Coating

Toward the end of the discussion, I asked “Da Boss” how and who determined the thickness of the coating? Before he could reply, I interjected with a follow-up question, “what do they use to determine the thickness? “We use an Elcometer. The inspector has one, and we have one.” He went on to describe the device. “It is small, one that you can hold in your hand. We randomly sample the areas and note the thickness in pencil.”

Once all the Intumescent Fire Resistive Material (IFRM) coating has passed the required thickness. When passed by a qualified inspector, the layer provides up to a four-hour fire resistance protection. The canopy will receive a white topcoat. The IFRM coating, which tends to be quite expensive, does not negate needed maintenance and/or repainting. I was also interested to learn CAL Osha has stringent rules on how the IFRM coating is applied and under what conditions.