Demolition, fence relocation block Pershing's Hitt Street entrance

Construction is in preparation for new patient care tower.

By Jared Grafman

Published Oct. 22, 2010

A section of the fence around Cramer Hall construction was relocated Thursday, which allowed workers to prepare for the demolition of the building. The new layout will prevent access from Hitt Street to the most direct entrance of Pershing Hall's lower level.

Residential Life sent an e-mail Oct. 15 to residents, informing them of the new layout of the construction fence.

A handicap-accessible route to the lower level of Pershing can be reached by traveling south on Pershing Drive to Pershing Hall, turning left and continuing to the ramp located on the southwest corner of the building, according to the e-mail. Alternative access will be available through the north entry to Pershing Hall and will require people to take the stairs down to the lower level.

University Hospital spokesman Jeffrey Hoelscher said in an e-mail the construction in that area of campus is in preparation for opening a patient care tower in 2013 for University Hospital.

“Fencing is in place as part of a safety feature of any construction site,” Hoelscher said. “That includes site preparation and construction, not just demolition.”

Demolition for Stafford Hall began in August and was completed last month, Hoelscher said. The demolition of Cramer Hall began in September and is scheduled to be completed in November.

“Originally, demolition for Cramer was thought to be completed in late October,” Hoelscher said. “However, extra time was needed to carefully remove the coping stones from the exterior of Cramer.”

The large stones from the exterior walls of Stafford Hall and Cramer Hall will be re-used in landscaping the retaining wall behind University Hospital’s new patient care tower, Hoelscher said. They will also be used in the healing garden inside the new Ellis Fischel Cancer Center facility.

The patient care tower will be built on the north side of University Hospital.

“The first and second floors of the patient care tower are planned to house Ellis Fischel Cancer Center outpatient services, including space for clinical services such as chemotherapy treatment, radiation therapy and cancer screening,” Hoelscher said. “It also will include spaces designed to give patients and visitors a comfortable healing environment, including an outdoor garden where people can find respite and a boutique with items such as wigs for chemotherapy patients.”

The third and fourth floors will have surgical services, including six state-of-the-art operating rooms and 21 pre- and post-procedure rooms, Hoelscher said. There will also be space for another six operating rooms and 30 pre- and post-procedure rooms to be established in the future. It also will include a large, new waiting area.

“The fifth, six and seventh floors will house inpatient units with 90 total private patient rooms for patient-centered care, comfortable visitor lounges and state-of-the-art facilities for physicians, nurses and other health care providers to treat patients,” Hoelscher said.

Construction for the tower is on schedule, and the demolition of Cramer Hall should be completed in November.