JOHN MUIR MEDICAL CENTER'S NEW ADDITION

In mid-April, my local hospital, John Muir Medical Center's facility in Walnut Creek, opened a new building, the Tom and Billie Long Patient Tower.

As a neighbor and a patient of this medical center, I've been following the progress of this new building for over a decade.

Just before it's April 17, 2011, opening, there was a big community open house where we got to tour the building. It is a beautiful state-of-the-art medical facility. Not only is the inside of the building spectacular, so is the outside.

Last week, Louie and I set out to take a walk around John Muir's new landscape, hardscape, and public art.

Keeping with the theme of the hospital's name, the landscape pays tribute to John Muir and his explorations in the High Sierra.



The following two photos are of rocky "mountains" with a waterfall that becomes a blue glass river leading from the mountains to the hospital entrance.




I especially like that there are many park-like areas around the building where people can sit, meditate, or simply eat their lunch. I've spent my share of time hanging around hospitals with nowhere to sit or relax or just have some time for myself. At John Muir, there is an abundance of seating areas, walkways, and interesting plants and art.




One of the most peaceful places to sit is in Sharon's Garden, a garden, financed by donations from Don and Sharon Ritchey. It has benches, inspirational quotes and a sculptural backdrop representing mountains.



The hospital faces both La Casa Via and Ygnacio Valley Road. These photos are part of the landscape along Ygnacio Valley Road and winding around to the La Casa Via side.

SITE TOUR @ JOHN MUIR MEDICAL CENTER

John Muir Medical Center is my neighbor and also my hospital of choice. I've had enough surgeries and xrays there that I think they should at least name a bathroom door or cafeteria table after me! But enough of me...here's something about their construction project..

For over 12 years, our neighborhood and other nearby neighborhoods have been invited to regular information/briefing/discussion sessions at the hospital regarding their construction and expansion plans.They've already added a parking garage and a currently working on a complete new hospital building whose completion target is December, 2010.

Since these projects do have an impact on the neighborhood, the hospital has tried its best to be a good neighbor by keeping us informed and up to date, while listening to our concerns.

I pass the hospital regularly on my walks and bike rides. I always stop to watch the work on the construction site.





At the most recent neighborhood meeting, there was a box on the sign in sheet to check if we planned to attend a construction site tour on April 30. Seeing this check box, I asked about it and was told that those of us from the neighborhoods who were interested, up to 18 of us, could visit the job site. With no hesitation, I checked the box, especially enthused at getting to wear a hard hat.



Jim does not go to these meetings, but when I told him about the tour, he was on the phone first thing the next morning to snag a place.

So this past Thursday at 6 p.m. we donned long pants, long sleeves, and sturdy closed toe shoes and went on the site tour. Only about a dozen of us showed up.



We were escorted by Clark Construction and the John Muir Facilities people. We started on the roof level and worked our way down, all the way to the basement.






In the basement, we could get a sense of how big this 5 level building actually is. The kitchen will be in the basement.




The building is framed, some siding is going up, the straps for duct work are in place, some of the conduits are also in place, some rooms are framed, but there is much much more to go.



The hospital will have a huge open rotunda in which there will be plants and flowers. It has been designed to be a sort of rain forest,with special watering methods.




Jack from Clark Construction described what was going to be on each floor. He had floor plans to show us.
The Facilities staff offered their insights into the future workings of the hospital.




This is where the main entrance will be.




And here is some special tile that is going to be on part of the facade.


For me, this site tour was a thrill beyond words.

We have been promised future tours in the next 20 months until completion of this new hospital building. I can't wait until the next time.