Iron workers on Wednesday raised and placed the last beam of structural steel on a new $27.5-million ambulatory care center under construction on the McLaren Lapeer Region campus. The three-story building will provide 92,000 square feet of space for new outpatient services and specialties currently not available in Lapeer. See story and photos on page 7A.
LAPEER — Less than three months after placing the first steel beam for a new $27.5-million ambulatory care center, McLaren Lapeer Region on Wednesday celebrated the final steel beam placement at a traditional final beam placement ceremony.
Leaders from McLaren Lapeer Region and the Auch Construction team gathered to thank the project’s ironworkers for their incredible achievement as they hoisted the final 15-foot beam to the top of the third floor. It took just minutes for the skilled workers to place the beam, representing the last of the more than 900,000 lbs. of structural steel that make up the building’s frame.
“This is an incredibly exciting moment for our staff and community,” said Chris Candela, president and CEO of McLaren Lapeer Region. “Our staff has been able to see the future of health care in Lapeer County literally rise from the ground up, one piece of steel at a time, as they walk into work every day.”
A pine tree symbolizing prosperity, health, and safety was also placed on the beam as it made its journey upward. The tree indicates there were no deaths during structural steel construction. Ironworker leaders say the tradition goes back centuries as Viking shipbuilders used trees as a symbolic marker of celebrating a safe building process.
“This new building is about so much more than a state-of-the-art facility,” Candela said. “It signifies us moving one step closer to building a healthier Lapeer community. That all starts with the people who are coming here every day to put their talents into this project to make it a reality.”
The three-story, 92,000-square-foot project is located on the northwest corner of McLaren Lapeer Region’s campus off Barry Drive, west of Adams Street and will be home to a variety of health care providers that are part of an expert multidisciplinary team, including orthopedics, ear, nose and throat, neurosurgery, OB/GYN, pediatrics, internal medicine, gastroenterology, lab, physical, occupational and speech therapy, and multiple family practices. The facility is expected to open in late 2021.
Project Facts:
• 900,000 lbs. of structural steel was used in project
• 93,000 square feet of steel deck was installed
• 12,000 bolt units were used
• 880 picks (lifts) were completed by a crane operator in structural steel construction phase of project
• 110 pieces of steel joist were installed