March 2021 — A Major Milestone Was Reached: The Loma Linda University Campus Transformation Project (LLCTP) receives the ‘Staff and Stock’ go-ahead from OSHPD

The featured image for this post is of the modern Main Lobby information/ Security desk located on the first floor of the new Medical Center. Notice the chairs behind the desk. This large lobby is entered via the Galleria.

The Second Featured Image

The Loading Dock on the west side of the new hospital complex. The former entrance to the Children’s Hospital was located center right, which is obscured by the stack of boxes.

For a featured image, one may ask “why this photo?” Why are two trucks and stacks of boxes on a loading dock selected for a featured image? Because this image represents a new phase, a MAJOR milestone in that the “Staff and Stock” phase has begun, which is out of the scope of the contractor’s hands. In other words, the informal transfer has begun. Although the contractor is still on site, selected staff from Loma Linda University Health can be in the building to begin stocking the various offices and clinic rooms.

Just a few days ago, on Linkedin, a social media platform for professionals, Senior Project Manager, Tim Duerst, at McCarthy Building Companies summed up his experience on with these words.

Four years ago McCarthy finished placing the first mat foundation pour totaling 5,500 CY [Cubic Yards] and last week the Campus Transformation Project for Loma Linda University Medical Center achieved Staff and Stock from OSHPD.

It is awesome to see today how far the entire project team has come and to think about what this new facility will mean to the community. I am glad to have been able to play my part in building this amazing project.

For more information on McCarthy and the Loma Linda University Project go to the following link: https://www.mccarthy.com/insights/mccarthy-healthcare-highlight-loma-linda-university-health

Achieving “Staff and Stock” simply means that OSHPD (California’s Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development) has given Loma Linda University Medical Center permission to allow staff to access the new building during the day. Currently, there are approximately 50 tradesmen inside the building finishing the last minute projects ordered by the inspectors.

To Celebrate the new “Staff and Stock” phase of the project the following images depict the six-year period that the Loma Linda University Campus Transformation Project has been front and center on the east side of the iconic cloverleaf towers. By the end of September 2018, the steel for the expanded Children’s Hospital topped out at 10-floors. The steel columns of the new adult hospital exceeded the height of the existing Medical Center.

The Main Lobby

The yellow line represent the location of the offices in relation to the Information/Security Desk. Lower right is just a few steps west of the desk. The lower offices are opposite the desk.

Six Years in The Making

When I began this project, I never imagined that I would be making rounds in the year 2021. Not bad for an old retired guy who began his sojourn on the campus on a clear, cool, Monday, March 23, 1970. I will remember the smell of citrus blossoms that hung heavy in the air. Now that sweet aroma is but a memory.

Furniture and Equipment

The First Floor — Offices and Waiting Rooms

The Information/Security Desk is the anchor of the Main Lobby. Directly behind the desk a vestibule with four elevators: two on each side.

The Peds Waiting Room off of the Grand Hallway and West of the Information/Security Desk.

To the right of the Information/Security Desk and slightly south of the of the Peds Waiting Room.

Across the Grand Hallway in the Main Lobby there are three small Multi-Purpose Offices.

To the left of the Information/Security Desk and down the hall to the Ped’s elevators are three Admitting, Registration and Finance offices with a Waiting Room.

The First Floor — Dining Room

Registration staff from the Medical Center are getting a tour of the Cafeteria and Dining Room by administration.

A view of the Dining Room from the northeast door off of the Grand Hallway.

The Second Floor — Medical Center Radiology Registration and Waiting Room

This Medical Center Registration/Waiting Room appears much different than it did a month ago.

Thirteenth Floor — Medical Surgical Floor

HP Printers have been unpacked and will soon be installed near the nursing stations.

Sometimes when I walk these empty floors, I will stop, close my eyes, and imagine four distinct sounds. The first sound reverberates from a time in the not-so-distant past: the echoes of the heavy equipment and the hammer blows of progress that were used to construct the structure. I make my way further down the hallway and again I stop and close my eyes. There is only silence save the muffled, rhythmic sound of the HVAC units that will soon provide filtered air to the patients and staff who will one day populate the building. Then I hear the “Staff and Stock” Crews as they in excited anticipation move equipment and supplies down the hallways to the designated rooms and places. Finally, I am a few months in the future, everything is changing, the commonplace sights, sounds, and smells that coexist with a hospital permeates the rooms, hallway and corridors . With the ribbon cutting ceremonies over, the campus moto “To Make Man Whole” envelops the new towers of healing on the Loma Linda University Health Dennis and Carol Troesh Medical Campus.

The 16th Floor — The Executive Board Room

Upon entering the Executive Board Room on the 16th floor, I was quite surprised to see the room full of boxes and patient monitors. Just as I was about to exit the room I heard some rustling of paper. Being the inquisitive type, I gravitated toward the sound. At the southwest end of the room, there was a makeshift office set up with someone reading a document on his computer screen. I learned that he was part of a team from GE Healthcare that would be assisting with equipment set up. On the opposite side of the room was another gentleman from GE who was unpacking a box. I was informed that they planned to be on-site for the next few months setting up GE equipment.

The Executive Board Room presently is being used as GE Healthcare staging area for patient monitors and other GE equipment.

Geoffrey from GE Healthcare in his “office” among the boxes in the Executive Board Room.

Dillon from GE Healthcare has the million dollar view.

A view of the GE patient monitors and other patient medical equipment as viewed from the southwest corner of the Executive Board Room.

The Eighth Floor — Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital

Play Room on the eighth floor. The playroom is on the south side of the building at the corner of the step out.

Another view of the Children’s Play Room.

Eighth floor Children’s Hospital patient room.

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 🔨

← February 2021 — Moving Closer to Completion

April 2021 — “. . .There aren’t many of us construction workers in the building these days. . . .” →