With more than 900 workers on site daily, the new Replacement Medical Center Facility, Eastern Colorado Health Care System for the Dept. of Veterans Affairs celebrated its topping out on June 24. The last high beam on the project was placed at the Clinic Building Center.

Picture courtesy of Kiewit-Turner JV

Veterans stand in front of their signatures on the final beam, which was put in place on June 24.

“Placing this beam is a testament to Kiewit-Turner and our subcontractors’ commitment to building a quality hospital for our veterans,” said David Duffy, Sr. Operations Project Manager, Kiewit-Turner.

The team celebrated the milestone with a ceremony that drew more than 1,200 people. It included placement of the beam and an all-project BBQ lunch. Over 8,700 tons of steel will be placed when the project is complete. That’s the same weight as 2,175 elephants.

Special guests for the event included representatives from the United Veterans Committee, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans and Aurora Veterans Affairs Commission of Colorado. Many of the veterans groups have been supporters of the hospital since its inception in the late 1990s.

“Seeing Kiewit-Turner place this beams marks progress. Having our names on the project is a thoughtful act, as we are the ones who have fought for our country and who will be using this hospital,” said Steve Rylant, president, United Veterans Committee of Colorado.

The new hospital campus will replace the Denver Medical Center for the Eastern Colorado Health Care System and is being constructed at the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora. The 182-bed replacement medical center will include a 30-bed spinal cord injury center, a 30-bed community living center, a research building, a central utility plant and parking structures.