Crafted in steel

Construction on the Tehachapi Replacement Hospital (replacing the seismically outdated 1956 hospital currently in use) is proceeding smoothly as welders bond massive steel beams and concrete floors take shape. The awesome girth of the structure is seen in these photos taken Jan. 2, 2014.

Left, Superintendent Rick Bussard, Jr. of Bernards-Colombo and Project Inspector Ron Hastie stride in front of the medical-surgical unit; below left, beams for the backbone-walkway rise above the med-surg unit; below center, the walkway in rear connects the med-surg on the left and the obstetrics wing on the right; below right, Noe Torres of Rising Sun Co. spreads a Steggo vapor barrier to prevent ground moisture from reaching the concrete slab.