News>Topping Out celebrates construction milestone
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A giant crane hoisted an autographed beam to the top of the new Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, May 11. The steel beam was the last one placed on the A wing, part of the first phase.
It will be the largest ambulatory surgical center in the Department of Defense when completed in 2015. (Courtesy photo/Will Ewing)
Col. James McClain and Dirk Schafer signs a steel beam next to the construction site of the new Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, May 10. The beam was the last one placed on the first building, part of one of three construction phases. McClain is the vice commander of the 59th Medical Wing and Schafer is the vice president of J.E. Dunn Construction Company. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Harold China)
by Staff Sgt. Micky M. Bazaldua
59th Medical Wing Public Affairs
5/14/2012 - LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The new $425 million energy efficient Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center is beginning to take shape. A "Topping Out" ceremony May 10 celebrated the placement of the final steel beam on the A wing, part of the first phase of the construction project.
The placement marked the completion of the first of three phases of the project, which is part of the San Antonio Military Health System's objective to improve its military health care facilities and provide better access to care and treatment for its beneficiaries and their family members.
"The impact of the new WHASC and out-patient clinic will reach around the world providing first class healthcare," said Air Force Col. James McClain, vice commander, 59th Medical Wing.
As customary, the beam was signed by key leaders before it was raised into place. Participating in the signing included McClain, Army Col. Mary McAfee, deputy commander of the WHASC, Col. Richard Muraski, commander, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Ft. Worth District, and Dirk Schafer, vice-president of J.E. Dunn construction company. The signing was extended to ASC staff and construction crew, who lined up to autograph the monumental steel structure.
The beam also bears signatures of senior military leaders to include Maj. Gen Byron Hepburn, 59th MDW commander and director of the San Antonio Military Health System, Lt. Gen. Patricia Horoho, U.S. Army Surgeon General and 59th MDW Command Chief Richard Robinson.
"It was a huge team effort between Joint Base San Antonio, our sister services, the Army Corp of Engineers, the construction team, civic leaders and the state of Texas that I am very thankful to be a part of," said McClain.
The A wing will mostly house the primary care functions. The cost of the first phase is approximately $70 million and also includes a new 1,000 car parking garage and a new central energy plant.
Three more wings will be built to complete the facility that will provide same day, ambulatory surgery, primary care, almost 40 sub-specialty out-patient services and ancillary services.
Construction of the state-of-the-art medical facility is projected to be completed in 2015 and will be the largest outpatient ambulatory surgical center in the Department of Defense.
