The first phase is a 14-month project constructing a new 25-bed acute patient wing housing five nursing support areas, two labor-delivery-recovery rooms, a waiting area and nursery on the west side of Community Hospital, and two isolation/hospice respite rooms and a healing garden on the southern end.

• The steel should arrive in early January, 2010
• A majority of the footings have been dug and poured. It is possible to dig footings in the winter as long as the holes are not open too long, allowing the ground to freeze.
• More than 7500 cubic yards of dirt were hauled in to prepare the project foundation. It took 440 truck loads to bring in the dirt.

The framework of the patient wing continues to take shape as the steel beams are set in place. Despite cold temperatures on Tuesday, February 2, a crane moves the beams one by one over to the structure where workers set them in place. After only two weeks since the steel arrived, the loose fitted framework is close to being half done.

Next week, a second steel crew will arrive. The crew will follow behind the loose fitting crew to square, align, tighten and weld the steel already in place. The next step is to deck the first half of the building (put a steel roof on). Once the roof is decked, the north half of the building will be encapsulated in plastic and heated so a floor can be poured.

While the steel is being erected, ground sewer lines are also being installed.
 

These photos were taken from the present hospital patient pod roof looking west onto the steel frame of the new patient wing.

The full 300 foot length of the patient wing takes shape on the hospital hill as the steel construction continues. Workers have had several days of sunshine and warmer temperatures this week helping to keep the project on schedule.

"We are the foundation of Community Hospital." Community Hospital employees, board of directors, medical staff, contract staff and Community Hospital Health Foundation board of directors were invited to sign one of two steel beams for the new patient wing, forever capturing their signatures into the steel foundation framework.

Community Hospital employees signing the beam are (from left) Nicetas Eilenberger, Darla Wilson, Karen Morthole, Sarah Wolford and Larisa O’Brien.

Two signed beams are raised at the north end of new Community Hospital patient wing by steel workers. The horizontal beam already in place on the left was signed by medical staff and board of directors. The beam just being set was signed by Community Hospital employees. A majority of employees participated in the signing with the top, sides and underside filled with signatures. Employees had the opportunity to watch the signed beam being incorporated into the facility framework on Wednesday, February 17,2010.

Pouring the concrete floor on the north side of the patient wing.

Outside view of Area D - this is the building that will house the new generator on the northeast side of the hospital.

Fireproofing being installed in Area D (new area/home for the backup generator)

Running the utilities out to the patient wing and these are electrical conduits

Workers raise an air handler in the process of installing it in the penthouse on the roof of the new patient wing.

A mock wall was built to demonstrate the brick and limestone finishes on the outside of the new patient wing.
 

Ambulance drive out of the Garage widened

The fire proofing is being done on the west side of the patient wing

Framing the patient rooms

Starting to put in ducting

More of the walls keep going up

The new generator has been moved into its new brick home, which is on the northeast corner of the current hospital building near the Materials Management dock.

Updates in the new patient wing include patient room head walls which must be installed early in the room finishing phase.

The windows are installed in the new patient wing.

Ducting being installed in the ceiling.

Pouring the floor to the hallway.

Workers install steel framing forming a temporary connector hallway between the new patient wing and the emergency room/surgery area. Once the patient wing is complete in mid-December, which completes Phase 1 of the project, the three former patient pods will be torn down. This will necessitate the need for the hallway to connect the new wing with the rest of the hospital building.