In a time-honored building tradition, Weill Cornell's Ambulatory Care and Medical Education Building (1305 York Ave. at 70th St.), was "topped out" with a flourish as the final beam soared to the roof of the 4,000-ton steel frame on May 16.
"This is a historic occasion," said Kevin Brine, chairman of Weill Cornell's "Advancing the Clinical Mission" capital campaign and member of Weill Cornell's Board of Overseers.
The ceremony marks a milestone for the building, the centerpiece of the Medical College's multimillion-dollar campaign. It also draws attention to the remarkable pace of construction, taking place just 357 days after last May's groundbreaking ceremony.
Representatives from building contractors Bovis Lend Lease announced the building was ahead of schedule and within budget, despite a harsh winter and wet spring.
Peter Meinig, Dr. Antonio Gotto, Dr. Herbert Pardes, Sanford Weill, and Kevin Brine prepare to witness the topping-out.
Sanford Weill signs his name to the final steel beam, while Dr. Gotto looks on.
"This Ambulatory Care and Medical Education Building is the centerpiece of the most ambitious capital campaign in the history of our Medical School," says Sanford Weill, chairman of the Board of Overseers of Weill Cornell Medical College. "I thank everyone who had the vision and foresight to extend our horizons, so that today we celebrate the expansion of Weill Cornell's clinical and research programs that will better serve our families. It is through the generosity of our donors and friends, our extraordinary physicians and scientists, our government and civic leaders that we can look forward to a new era of patient care."
On a fair day that augured a sunny outlook for the building's completion, Medical College faculty, staff and supporters, along with Bovis Lend Lease officials and iron workers, donned their white hardhats and gathered at the base of the structure to sign their names on the beam with markers. A crane then hoisted the beam, and a traditional fir tree perched on top, 13 stories to the roof. Media members from UPN-9, FOX-5, and the Wall Street Journal, among others, arrived to chronicle the ceremony.
The ambulatory care center will house 330,000 square feet of modern, patient-oriented facilities and amenities, including state-of-the-art equipment, a comfortable welcome center, and several specialty clinical practices for integrated patient care. The building is scheduled to open in the fall of 2006.
The final steel beam rose dramatically to crown the 13-story steel frame with a flourish. This building is the centerpiece for Weill Cornell's capital campaign.
"This building will address all the major missions of the Medical College," said Dean Antonio Gotto, citing its expanded clinical space and research facilities that will bring students, faculty and patients together. "It's a proud day for the Medical College, and we thank everyone who helped make this day possible."
"This building will shape the face of medicine for decades to come," said Peter Meinig, chairman of the Cornell University Board of Trustees, who lauded the Medical College for its vision and leadership. The Center will be the flagship building for Cornell University in New York City.
Maurice Greenberg, a member of Weill Cornell's Board of Overseers, hailed the building as the latest in a series of achievements for the Medical College, "a nexus of top minds and resources of medical care unparalleled anywhere else in the world."
Dr. Herbert Pardes, president and CEO of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, praised the strong alliance between the Hospital and the Medical College.
"This building may be topped out, but we're still moving straight up to a higher 'top' together in the coming years," Dr. Pardes said.
Photos by Charles Manley and Melissa Hantman.