Construction has started on Indiana University Health’s new $400 million Regional Academic Health Center, set to open in 2020.
The footprint of the 700,000-squarefoot facility has been mapped out and marked with wooden stakes, including the hilly, grass-covered area that is no longer a driving range.
Although dirt is currently being stockpiled west of the future build site, dirt should really start moving in the next couple of weeks, F.A. Wilhelm Construction site supervisor Doug May said Friday morning during a tour of the busy area along the Ind. 45/46 Bypass.
May pointed out different areas of the future health campus, such as the academic wing, emergency services and a helipad. Site safety manager Chris Ramsey drove a cart around the massive site.
“You can see how big the footprint is. That’s 135,000 square feet along the ground floor,” May said. “That’s a lot of footage out there.”
To create a level surface in which to build the complex, crews will use the earth, roughly 50,000 yards of dirt, already on site, May said.
“You really only want to move things once. That might not be possible in some situations, but that’s the goal. It’s like a huge game of chess,” May said. “Here in the next couple of weeks we’re going to change dramatically.”
At the height of construction, there will be around 400 crew members on site with 14 total trailers assembled in a “trailer city” in a lot just off the bypass on Bloomington’s east side.