August 9, 2002

Construction progresses for new
Yawkey Center

A large steel beam was eased gently into place July 12, marking the beginning of construction of the structural frame for the MGH's new Yawkey Center for Outpatient Care. Workers at the busy construction site (below) have positioned steel beams at ground level to build the 50,000-square-foot plaza deck. This deck will one day serve as the ceiling of a six-level underground parking garage as well as the base of a 10-story building.

Construction of the hospital's much-needed ambulatory care building, slated to open in 2004, continues on schedule. The building will be located next to the MGH's Fruit Street Garage, on the site of the former Charles Street Jail.

According to Chuck Favazzo of Walsh Brothers, construction managers for the project, after the steel beams are in place, metal decking will be secured on top of the beams. And by mid-August, 9 1/2 inches of concrete will have been placed on the metal decking, creating a solid foundation for the work that will take place above and below the plaza deck.

After the slab has cured, excavation work will begin, as workers tunnel below ground to build the garage. Excavated material will be taken out through two giant holes in the plaza deck. Removing dirt through these confined openings will help limit the amount of dust generated. Trucks will then carry away the spoils, driving through special wheel washers before exiting the construction site.

Meanwhile, demolition of three hospital-owned buildings on Cambridge Street will take place in the next six weeks. Removal of these buildings will allow for the installation of utility lines and the creation of a new driveway to provide direct access to the Yawkey Center and the entrance to the underground garage.

In September, the steel framing that will form the skeleton of the building will begin to rise from the plaza deck. As the steel grows higher and higher, concrete slabs will be poured, dividing the building into 10 stories that will be dedicated to clinical care and one penthouse that will house the mechanical systems for the entire facility. The steel beam that will top off the building is expected to be put in place in early spring 2003.

Once the steel frame is finished, the building's facade, or skin, will fully enclose the structure. Enclosing the building will allow the multifaceted interior work to begin in a controlled environment. Then hundreds of workers will practice their specific crafts, creating a facility that will enable patients and families to receive the highest quality care in a comfortable setting designed and constructed specifically for ambulatory care services.