Memorial patient tower milestone moment: Steel beams arrive on-site

The arrival of the first steel beams at the Memorial Hospital of South Bend patient tower construction site this week marks the beginning of a crucial phase in the project.

Just as a skeleton provides strength and stability to the body, these steel beams will ensure the tower stands strong and resilient for decades to come, ready to support our dedicated teams as they serve our community’s healthcare needs.

Brian Spencer, Beacon Vice President of Facilities, Construction and Real Estate, stopped by the tower construction staging area for a firsthand look at the delivery and talk about some of the details behind these important structural elements.

“We’re very excited about it — it’s the first of several hundred truckloads over the coming months,” Spencer said.

Steel stats

Walsh Construction Project Superintendent Mike Samborsky shares more details about the steel that will form the structure of the tower.

Lenex Steel Company, headquartered in Indianapolis, is the primary steel source for the tower project.

• 100% of metal deck is fabricated in Indiana
• 100% of miscellaneous steel components, such as stairs, are fabricated in Indiana
• 95% of trucking is provided by Lenex in Indiana
• 90% of structural steel is fabricated in Indiana
• 75% of steel is sourced and smelted in Indiana

Ben Hur Construction Co. will erect the steel for the project. Founded in 1909, the company’s portfolio also includes the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (1975) and the Indiana International Airport (2008).

By the numbers

• Project total is 2,350 tons (1 ton = 2,000 pounds).
• Heaviest piece of steel is 20,000 pounds.
• Longest piece of steel is 60 feet.
• 3,000 wide flange members (“I” beams)
• 3,070 squares of metal deck (100 square feet = 1 square of metal deck)

Total number of steel deliveries and loads per month:

• Structural: 122 (19 loads per month)
• Metal deck: 60 (10 loads per month)
• Miscellaneous steel: 30 (5 loads per month)

Number of beams placed on a typical day:

• About 33 per day

Photo below: In early October, the first steel beams for the new patient tower were placed atop the Memorial Leighton Heart and Vascular Center.

Here for you 

We appreciate our community’s support and understanding as construction continues on the new Patient Tower. Helpful information about coming to the main entrance of Memorial Hospital as a patient or visitor is available here.