LOMA LINDA>> This past weekend marked the completion of a major milestone in the construction of the new hospital at Loma Linda University Health. Over 5,000 yards of concrete were brought in for the third and final time during a 10-hour overnight workathon.
Equipment was brought into place for the third and final “Big Pour” of the foundation. Concrete delivery began about two hours later. The pour completed the mat foundation — a four-foot-thick concrete slab enforced with steel rebar.
The work took place over Saturday night in order to minimize the number of people impacted. Residents experienced some noise and bright lights, and and access to the front entrance of the LLU Medical Center was restricted. it closed 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 was 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.
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.
Loma Linda University Health includes Loma Linda University’s eight schools, Loma Linda University Medical Center’s six hospitals and over 900 faculty physicians located in the Inland Empire of Southern California.
Established in 1905, Loma Linda University Health is a global leader in education, research and clinical care. It offers over 100 academic programs and provides quality health care to 40,000 inpatients and 1.5 million outpatients each year.
A Seventh-day Adventist organization, Loma Linda University Health is a faith-based health system with a mission “to continue the teaching and healing ministry of Jesus Christ.”