Saturday, November 23, 2013

St. Joseph Hospital Presence Center for Advanced Care -- Week One Progress

By 2015 a parking lot will give way to the new Presence Center for Advanced Care
Although we are blessed with grand views of Belmont Harbor and Wrigley Field by day and spectacular sunsets to the west in the evening, immediately to the north of our building we have looked out on a parking lot for St. Joseph Hospital for the past half-dozen years.

That began to change three weeks ago as construction began on a 200,000 square foot expansion of the hospital in the form of the Presence Center for Advanced Care.  The new facility will provide much needed space for outpatient surgery, medical imaging, physical therapy, and specialized centers dealing with the treatment of cancer and digestive diseases.

It has been interesting to watch the project pick up steam from up here on the thirty-first floor.  I’ve tried to keep an eye on things so far, and at regular intervals will post photos of the progress that is being made.  The project is interrupting my reading time because I keep running to the window with camera and binoculars to see what’s currently happening. 

I thought it might be interesting, as well, to see how a project of this scope moves along.  Here are the photos and a brief description of progress made during the first week of construction.

Day One – Monday, November 4, 2013
  The fence guys show up with the equipment necessary to secure the site.
  Post holes are augured on the west side (Sheridan Road) and on the east side           (Commonwealth)
  West side posts set in concrete

Day One: The Beginning -- Crews gather to secure the site (JWB Photo)
Day Two – Tuesday, November 5, 2013
  Trucks deliver concrete barricades for north side (Surf)
  Concrete barricades set up on Serf with screening to block view
  Last car is towed from Surf
  Completion of barricade posts next to Commonwealth Plaza on the south

Day Two: Barricades delivered at north end (Surf St.) of construction site (JWB Photo)
Day Three – Wednesday, November 6, 2013
  Blue storage trailer delivered and placed on south side
  Plywood sheeting moved into trailer
  Rain most of the day

Day Four – Thursday, November 7, 2013
  Wooden lath installed between Sheridan Road fence posts
  Chain link fence installed on Commonwealth (east side)
  Green screening attached to east side chain link fence to block view

Day Four: Screening attached to concrete barricades on Surf St.;
fence posts up along Sheridan Rd. (JWB Photo)
Day Five – Friday, November 8, 2013
  Plywood attached to Sheridan Road (west) fencing
  Bulldozer is delivered

Day Five: Plywood up along Sheridan Rd.; bulldozer delivered (JWB Photo)
So it took an entire week to get the site prepared in order to begin work.  By the end of the week, though, the lot was completely enclosed, parking had ended on Surf and Commonwealth, and the first piece of heavy equipment had been delivered.  They were ready to go.

No comments: