With over half of the structural foundation piers in place, the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center is going vertical.
The addition of the second crane located in the northeast corner of the project site allows crews to expand the footprint of the concrete structure facility. Over the next few months, horizontal slabs will be poured to form the lower levels of the Suzanne and Walter Scott Research Tower.
These horizontal deck pours will continue through June 2015 at which point the last pour will ceremoniously occur during a topping-out ceremony which signifies completion of the structural frame. By January 2015, the curtain wall or “skin” of the building will begin to take shape.
While construction progress can be seen on site, there are also noticeable changes occurring in surrounding streets and buildings.
During the month of June, various windows on the west side of the Durham Outpatient Center and Medical Sciences Building are being removed. Building code requires a separation wall between construction of new and existing facilities. Infilling the windows ensures the project is in compliance with building codes.
Beginning the week of June 23, M.U.D will start installation of new utilities serving the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, at 45th (now called Durham Research Plaza) and Emile streets. This will result in vehicle lane restrictions that may impact patients, faculty, staff and students.
Work will take place in front of the Durham Outpatient Center circle drive and will involve vehicular lane restrictions along Emile Street.
During this time, those exiting the circle drive will be required to turn eastbound. Pedestrians will be required to use the Emile Street pedestrian walkway between Lot 50 and the Durham Outpatient Center, shifted just east of its current location. Depending on water testing results, the work in this area may extend into the first week of July.
Once the circle drive work is complete, crews will move west and start work at 45th Street, north of Emile Street. This work will take approximately two weeks to complete.
One lane along 45th street will be restricted for this work. Access to and from the visitor parking lot or Green/Lot 2 will be maintained at all times.
Pedestrian traffic between Lot 50 and the Durham Research Centers will be required to use the east side of 45th Street.
During construction, flagmen will be on site to direct traffic. Drivers and pedestrians are asked to exercise extreme caution and pay attention to posted signage, as lane restrictions and traffic direction changes will be ongoing.