A towering crane has been installed at BCIT’s Burnaby campus. Stretching 48 metres (164 feet) into the sky, it’s easily one of the tallest structures on campus. And its arrival onsite means building is set to begin on the new Health Sciences Centre (HSC), the first of several next-generation teaching and learning spaces supported by BCIT’s INSPIRE Campaign.
“The crane installation is a major milestone in the construction of BCIT’s much-anticipated new Health Sciences Centre, which will transform the way we educate and equip BC’s healthcare professionals,” says Jackie Jacob, Executive Director, BCIT Foundation. “Once completed, the Centre will further strengthen BCIT’s ability to build a high-calibre workforce of skilled graduates ready to lead the charge for innovation.”
“The new Health Sciences Centre will produce job-ready graduates with the ability to adapt to an ever-changing healthcare environment, which has become so vital today,” says INSPIRE Campaign cabinet member and BCIT Nursing alumna Sarah Bell. “By honouring the important work that healthcare professionals do to support the health and wellness of their communities, the Centre will be an inspirational place of learning for students throughout their careers.”
The Pecco SK 400 tower crane was installed on May 6 and 7 and required two days to install and five truckloads to transport all the materials for the structure onto the HSC project site. A large 30’ x 30’ x 5’ concrete base was constructed below the level of the excavation to support the massive crane, and a vertical mast was bolted to the foundation.
With the majority of the excavation of the HSC site now complete, over the coming weeks, the building’s foundation will be installed and poured. The crane will play a critical role in moving and unloading materials and equipment safely and efficiently into place as the building is constructed.
BCIT’s Health Sciences Centre is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2021.
About the INSPIRE Campaign
The largest fundraising campaign launched in BCIT’s 50-year history, the INSPIRE Campaign will transform BCIT’s Burnaby campus into a dynamic new learning environment where solutions to our most urgent and complex challenges are born, tested, and readied for the world. The campaign aims to raise $125 million to create $450 million in infrastructure and education renewal.