Nine Stories of Steel Up at Spaulding

Last month Spaulding and Walsh Brothers Incorporated celebrated the “topping out” of the new Spaulding Rehabilitative Hospital in the Navy Yard, marking a significant milestone with the completion of the building’s structural nine stories of steel. 

The final beams raised included a beam signed by Iron Workers Local Union No. 7. The beams also feature an American flag, a flag honoring James Walsh, III, and a beam signed by staff, patients and patient families. An evergreen tree from Spaulding’s current site on Nashua Street, a traditional symbol of the ironworkers’ topping out ceremony, also stands atop the beams.

Construction Schedule

According to a press release from Spaulding, crews have started to lay concrete floor placements and spray fireproofing on the structure. That work will continue through June. The backfilling of the foundation and site utilities have now resumed following the City of Boston’s winter moratorium. The exterior enclosure, windows, and roofing are on schedule to start as well.

The new hospital’s core of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing infrastructure systems will follow starting in June, as the building is made water tight.

The interior finishes are scheduled to start in September 2011 culminating in a building turnover in the first quarter of 2013.

Employment Opportunities

With the completion of steel, the site will be adding new trades on site throughout the summer. Charlestown residents are encouraged to contact their local union business agents about upcoming hiring opportunities at the Spaulding project. 

Additionally, union workers in Charlestown can “walk on” the site at 300 First Avenue in Charlestown and ask for Linda Shaughnessy, Walsh Brothers Boston Plan administrator, at the Walsh Brothers trailer. Shaughnessy will coordinate with the local union business agents about the hiring schedule. She can be reached at (617) 643-8750 or lshaughnessy@walshbrothers.com

Future Updates

If you wanted to be added to the email list for ongoing updates about the Spaulding project, email Dave Whelan, vice-chair of the Charlestown Neighborhood Council (whelan.dm@gmail.com), and Rebecca Kaiser, Director of Community Relations at Spaulding Rehabilitation Network (rkkaiser@partners.org).

When it's completed, the hospital will employ 1,000 full- and part-time staff members and house 132 private patient rooms. It will be a state-of-the-art medical facility, officials say, with LEED certification, energy efficient features and facilities that are open to the community. The total cost for construction is estimated at $220 million and is expected to be complete by December 2012.