December 10, 2020 — Eleven Days

This blog’s featured image is a northeast view of the new hospitals taken at the corner of Anderson Street and Prospect Ave. The inset photo is of a centennial banner (upper right) depicting the original sanitarium that sat on the hill when the property was purchased in 1905. In the summer of 2004, the centennial banners were displayed around campus as part of the 2005 celebration. When I snapped the centennial banner’s photo with the tower in the background, I had no idea that 26 years later, taller structures would cast long shadows on the Medical Center.

As I arrived on the north side of the site, an all-too-familiar sound filled the air.

A Visit to the Moat

Since I had been on the roof of the adult tower on December 9, 2020, I thought I should visit the moat (level “B”) the following day as I hadn’t been down where it is dark for a few months. I took the southeast stairs–some eight flights–down, and all the while, I was grateful for the six flights up on the northwest side.

The northeast stairs (all eight flights) that I took to the moat.

I was anxious to see if there were any signs of life down in the pit. By the time I reached the bottom, I could hear some noise somewhere among the base isolators. As the sound ricochets off of the steel isolators, it is difficult to distinguish from which direction it originates.

A fenced elevator pit and a laborer on his knees cleaning around a base isolator.

As I made my way down one of the isles between the rows of base isolators, I came across an elevator pit, which was surrounded by a safety fence. That was new. Off to my right, I found where some of the noise was coming from. Two laborers were cleaning around one of the base isolators. Further in, I could hear some talking. Yes, there was life down in the pit.

The northeast corner of the building. I found two laborers working in the area who were a bit camera shy.

Having looked around in the northeast section, I decided to walk along the north side of the moat to see if I could find any other signs of life.

The moat along the north foundation wall.

As I walked toward the west, I saw a burst of light. Wow, could somebody be welding down here? I wondered. The light stopped and then flashed again.

A burst of light from the welder’s torch.

Then the flash was gone. I kept walking. Again, there was a burst of light. I pointed the camera toward the light and clicked the shutter. After the flash of light stopped, I was unable to see its source. Pressing ahead, I heard the clanking sound of metal. Again, I stopped, pointed the camera. A flash of light, click, and then another flash of light, and another click of the shutter. Back on grade, I checked my photos and found that I had captured the source of the light.

After poking around a bit more, I made my way up the sixt flights of stairs to the northwest side of the campus.

Back on Grade — The North and West Sides

After my trek up the six flight of stairs from the moat, I made my rounds on the north side where there was a lot of activity. The painters were spraying a sealer on the trellis of the Main Entrance Canopy, concrete masons were smoothing out freshly poured concrete on the west end of the canopy, other laborers were working around the main entrance roundabout. Looking up toward the top of the Adult Hospital tower I noticed a few more letters had been added to the Loma Linda University Medical Center sign.

A meeting is being held with those responsible for moving the “Come Unto Me” statues to the location where the crew is standing.

It appears another letter or two has been added to the sign.

Concrete masons are smoothing out the concrete that was poured earlier that morning.

The final section of the service/emergency road has been cut and graded. Forming for the curbs and gutters should begin soon.

The inside of the Schuman Pavilion Pedestrian Bridge.

The west side of the Schuman Pavilion Pedestrian Bridge reflects the east tower of the Medical Center.

The service/emergency road and the southwest retaining wall. Above the retaining wall is the Children’s Emergency Department’s drop-off and parking.

The South Side

What had been a hub of activity all these many months, I was astounded to see that that the south side of the project was bereft of activity. There were a few laborers on the side working on punch list items. From what I could tell, most of the landscaping had been completed.

The stairs that lead from the service/emergency road to the Children’s Emergency Department’s drop-off and parking.

The southwest corner of the Children’s Emergency Department’s drop-off and parking area with landscaping. Parking structure P4 is in the background.

The south side of the campus with the Children’s Emergency Department’s drop-off and parking area in the foreground. In the middle of the south campus is the ambulance delivery and parking. On the east side is the Adult Emergency Department’s drop-off and parking area.

This and That on the Second Floor

As I was about to leave the site, I ran into the assistant job superintendent responsible for the second floor, which includes Emergency Department, Imaging, Diagnostic Radiology, and Nuclear Medicine, etc. As I had an appointment to get to, I was unable follow him around too long. There were a few things that caught my attention which I can share in this section.

The good size staff lounge located on the north side between Radiological Imaging and Diagnostic Imaging. There are a panel of windows on the west side that overlooks the Schuman Pavilion Pedestrian Bridge.

Stationed near one of the Emergency Department’s Gurney doors is a Desigo Modular Fire Alarm System Panel.

A Pneumatic Tube Station in the ER department.

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 🔨

← December 09, 2020 — 12 Days Out

December 14, 2020 — Eight Days and Counting →