Weather has not slowed construction on the Hazelrig-Salter Radiation Oncology Facility and the adjoining Women and Infants Center, says Robert Sharpe, project manager and director of Hospital Construction.

Construction on the Hazelrig-Salter Radiation Oncology Facility and Women and Infants Center is running on schedule. The building is scheduled for occupancy in spring 2010.

“It’s progressing very well, and it’s progressing on schedule,” Sharpe says of the 640,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility located at the corner of Seventh Avenue and 16th Street. “The rain we’ve gotten so far this year really hasn’t significantly impacted our construction schedule.”

The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees approved the overall budget for the remainder of the project at its most recent meeting. The budget includes the interior fit-out, which comprises all of the interior components such as the finishes, doors, walls, floor covering, ceilings and lights.

The design-build team Brasfield and Gorrie and architects Gresham, Smith and Partners have been working on the final design of the interior.

“Now that the interior fit-out budget has been approved, work will begin in April,” Sharpe says. “The shell and core of the west structure of the building should top out later this month. The east structure will top out in April.”

The exterior work, or sheathing, is under way and will continue for months. When the exterior is completed, the contractors can begin work on fitting out each floor; the third floor of the nine-story building will be first.

Bridge under construction
The bridge connecting the facility with the North Pavilion also is under construction. Because of code and structural requirements, the bridge is a separate structure from the Hazelrig/Women and Infants and North Pavilion buildings.

“We will complete it this year, but we won’t actually extend it into the North Pavilion until next year,” Sharpe says. “It’s separated from both buildings by expansion joints.”

Construction of the structure containing the Hazelrig-Salter facility and Women and Infants Center is scheduled for completion in January 2010. Occupancy is scheduled for the spring 2010. In order to maximize construction and operating efficiencies, the new structure will house one of the premier comprehensive cancer facilities in the Southeast, the state-of-the-art Women and Infants Center and offices for physicians.