Last Steel Beam for Swedish's New Hospital in Issaquah Hoisted into Place
ISSAQUAH, WA, Aug. 6, 2010 – Less than 10 months after a ceremonial ground breaking in mid-October 2009, the last structural steel beam for Swedish’s comprehensive ambulatory care center, five-story medical office building and acute-care community hospital in the Issaquah Highlands was signed by construction workers and hospital officials this morning before being lifted into place atop the structure.
This topping-off ceremony marked the completion of a major construction milestone en route to the facility’s scheduled phase-one opening in July 2011.
About 375 people attended the 30-minute ceremony. Other invited guests included Swedish/Issaquah Community Advisory Council members, Swedish Foundation Committee members, and key City of Issaquah personnel.
After construction workers, hospital officials and invited guests signed the steel beam, brief remarks were given by Kevin Brown with Swedish (chief strategic officer and senior VP overseeing the project), Scott Redman with Sellen Construction Company (the general contractor), and a representative from Hammes Company (Swedish’s development partner on the project).
The steel beam – painted red, white and blue and topped with an American flag and the traditional small fir tree – was then hoisted by a crane, spun twice and bolted into place. Following the 30-minute ceremony, the hundreds of construction workers on site were treated to a barbecue lunch hosted by Sellen.
To watch videos of this topping-off ceremony, click here and here.
For more information about the Swedish/Issaquah hospital project, including the latest updates, detailed project information, renderings, animation, construction progress photos, etc., visit www.swedishissaquah.org.
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Media Coverage
- To read a related article the Issaquah Reporter posted on their Web site Aug. 5, click here.
- To read a related article KOMONews.com posted on their Issaquah Web site Aug. 5, click here.
- To read a related article The Issaquah Press posted on their Web site Aug. 6, click here.
- To read a related article The Issaquah Press posted on their Web site Aug. 10, click here.
- To read a related article the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce posted on their Web site Aug. 11, click here.
Note for News Media
Swedish had a professional photographer and videographer at the topping-off ceremony. If a media outlet was unable to attend and would like high-quality still images and/or video of the event, simply contact Ed Boyle at 206-386-2748 or via ed.boyle@swedish.org.
