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VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System logo, Major Construction Projects, University Drive Division Parking Garage
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Click here to view a larger image. A rare sight at University Drive. A vacant parking lot. Why? This lot is closed is the construction site of the new 1,500 space parking garage, to be completed in the summer of 2007. Click here to view a larger image. The parking garage construction site at University Drive is fenced off in preparation for the commencement of work. Click here to view a larger image. Surveyors begin laying out and marking the parking garage site. Click here to view a larger image. Drilling equipment prepares the parking garage site for the grouting process required to stabilize any possible remaining cavities in the abandoned coal mine over eighty feet below. Click here to view a larger image. A concrete pumping truck inserts concrete mix into the any possible cavities and voids remaining in the abandoned coal mine over eighty feet below the parking garage site.
Click here to view a larger image. Retaining walls separating the previous parking lot levels are removed in preparation of the parking garage site. Click here to view a larger image. Retaining walls are hammered apart and removed in preparation of the parking garage site. Click here to view a larger image. Removal of pavement, earth and rock commences in order to bring the parking garage site to grade. Click here to view a larger image. A light snowfall the previous night does not hinder site clearance for the parking garage. The relatively mind winter permitted significant progress through-out the season. Click here to view a larger image. The previous parking lots slowly vanish into the buckets of the excavating equipment.
Click here to view a larger image. Materials from the parking lot areas are loaded into dump trucks and hauled away. The old vanishes to make room for the new parking garage. Click here to view a larger image. The walls come tumbling down! Retaining walls must go to make room for the parking garage. Click here to view a larger image. Drilling work commences for the massive concrete caissons that will become the supporting foundation for the entire parking garage structure. Grading for the garage is almost complete. Click here to view a larger image. The final phase of grading commences for the parking garage. Upon completion, this will be one of the largest parking complexes in the Pittsburgh area and the largest in Oakland. Click here to view a larger image. Lots of unearthed rock needs to be hammered apart prior to being hauled away.
Click here to view a larger image. A previously buried wall from a prior structure on the garage site is uncovered during excavation. Click here to view a larger image. These massive drill bits will be used for site preparation prior to pouring the concrete caissons that will become the supporting foundation for the parking garage. Click here to view a larger image. Preformed rebar reinforcement meshes ready for use in fabricating the concrete caissons. Click here to view a larger image. Completed poured concrete caissons, surrounded by circular orange safety fencing, will soon be the foundation for columns rising skyward to form the parking garage structure. This crane appears lonely as it towers above the parking garage construction site. Stop by over the next year to view the nine level parking garage as it rises on the site behind the crane. A three level parking garage will arise in the foreground. The long-awaited desire of convenient parking at University Drive for our veterans, their families and staff is being delivered.
This massive crane towers over the parking garage site. The University Drive Division is seen in the background. Workers place concrete forms for the nine level parking garage. Things are really starting to happen at University Drive. The nine level parking garage is noticeably starting to rise from the ground as concrete forms are placed in preparation for the pouring of the first elevated level. Concrete forms frame the first elevated level of the nine story parking garage. Footer work for the three level parking garage.
Work continues below grade on the parking garage. Placement of concrete forms for the first elevated garage level is starting to take shape. Photo taken on June 1, 2006. Placement of concrete forms for the first elevated garage level is almost complete. Photo taken on June 13, 2006. Concrete form work for the first elevated garage level is complete. Rebar and wire mesh are being placed prior to the pouring of concrete. Photo taken on June 30, 2006. Parking deck level view of rebar and wire mesh are being placed prior to the pouring of concrete for the first elevated level. Photo taken on July 6, 2006.

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