News>Construction is steady on Lackland's medical campus
Photos
Show here is the parking site at Wilford Hall Medical Center on Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in front of the main entrance of the hospital before the construction began earlier this summer. (Courtesy photo)
Current construction progress as of July 1, 2011, on the new two-level, 1,028-car parking garage, located in front of Wilford Hall Medical Center's main entrance at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. (Courtesy photo)
Excavation of the utility corridor, which will provide utility services to the new Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center is steadily moving along on schedule. Excavation for building 1 of the WHASC is underway. (Courtesy photo)
The first steel beam was placed mid-June on the new MacKown Dental Clinic at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. When completed, the new clinic will almost double the size of the current facility, which was built in 1952. (Courtesy photo)
Construction of the new MacKown Dental Clinic at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, is right on track. Structural steel supports for the building have been installed, concrete floors for both the first and second floors of the two-story building are completely poured and the interior wall layout has begun. (Courtesy photo)
7/13/2011 - LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The first phase of construction for the new Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center is steadily progressing.
Excavation of the new 1,028-car parking garage is complete and the utility corridor excavation is moving along on schedule, according to Joann Pinto, director, 59th Medical Wing Facilities Management. Additionally, excavation for WHASC building 1 began the first week in July.
"We're pleased the first phase is progressing well, said Pinto. "We recognize construction can be a headache, but the payoff will be worth it, as our patients will be cared for in a state-of-the-art outpatient clinical and ambulatory surgical center."
The WHASC is expected to be completed in 2015. The current Wilford Hall Medical Center building will be demolished after the new facility is complete and fully operational.
The original front entrance of Wilford Hall is still available for access. Patients who prefer to use the circle drive and drop off should follow the detour signs on Loop Road going around the northeast side of Wilford Hall and turn left at the Total Energy Plant.
To ease traffic congestion, a "work zone" has been established which allows construction crew to come and go from the construction site without interrupting traffic flow in and out of the base.
All temporary parking is now open. Additional crosswalks provide easier access to the hospital, and a relief to cramped parking conditions should now be felt.
Construction of the MacKown Dental Clinic project is right on track to finish in the spring of 2012, which will be located across from the Child Development Center. All departments currently housed at MacKown will move into the new building, along with some services at the Dunn Dental Clinic.
Currently contractors are busy ordering furnishings and equipment required to outfit and operate the new building. To date, structural steel supports for the building have been installed, concrete floors for both the first and second floors of the two-story structure are completely poured and interior wall layout has begun.
Additionally, the exterior envelope of the dental building is currently under construction. In June, a mock-up of the exterior finishes for the facility was created, reviewed and will be approved by the design team before the bulk of the finishes are applied.
