Things are looking down — that is, the view into the construction pit of the future hospital complex will be a site worth bending one’s neck for this Sunday afternoon, May 21.
At 8:20 p.m. Saturday night, equipment will be brought into place for the third and final “Big Pour” of the foundation. Concrete delivery will begin about two hours later. This pour will complete the mat foundation — a four-foot-thick concrete slab enforced with steel rebar.
The work is taking place over a Saturday night in order to minimize the number of people impacted. Expect noise, bright lights and restricted access to the front entrance of the LLU Medical Center: it will close at 8:20 p.m. — 40 minutes earlier than the usual weekend closure — through 11:30 a.m. Sunday.
During those hours, entry to the Medical Center and Children’s Hospital will be gained through the Emergency Department on Campus Street.
“We hope you share in our excitement about this milestone, and we greatly appreciate your patience while the work takes place,” said Eric Schilt, assistant vice president for construction at LLU Medical Center.
Want to have a look at the process? Visit the second-floor breezeway between the Medical Center and Children’s Hospital between 8–10 a.m. Sunday. Parking will be available in the P3 structure on Campus Street during that time. (But remember that P3 is reserved for patient and visitor parking only during normal business.)
Contact Schilt at eschilt@llu.edu for more information about this weekend’s pour.
Set to open in 2020, the new building will feature two towers — one for adults and one for children. The adult tower will replace the current Medical Center, while the pediatric tower will increase space for patient care at LLU Children’s Hospital by about 40 percent.