July 3, 2003

Yawkey Center grows from top to bottom

From the outside, a major portion of construction on the Yawkey Center for Outpatient Care seems well under way, but on the inside the building continues to grow six stories underground. Currently, the sixth and final level of the underground parking garage, which will be able to hold 697 cars when complete, is being excavated and is expected to be completed by September. At the same time, concrete flooring has been poured, fireproofing of the steel structure has reached the eighth floor, and the exterior curtain wall is being erected. Finally, piping and heating, ventilation and air conditioning ductwork has begun, and large pieces of air-handling equipment are being lifted onto the roof.

Planning also continues for those departments that will occupy the Yawkey Center. Department representatives and members of the Planning Office are finalizing an equipment list, making furniture selections, working on logistics of the move and planning information systems. Space allocation, staffing requirements and code call response logistics also are in the planning stages.

The Yawkey Center for Outpatient Care is expected to open in the fall of 2004.