Steel placement on the fourth and fifth stories of the new patient tower continues after a brief interruption in January due to a steel fabrication delay. This work, originally planned to be finished this month, should wrap up in March. The delay will not impact the timeline for the overall project. Starting in mid-January, scaffolding rose to enable exterior framing, which began Feb. 11. This is the first step in creating the building’s “skin.” Inside, rough framing of patient rooms, and piping work, continues.  

The City of Chico’s Architectural Review Board (ARB) is scheduled to review proposed plans for façade modifications of the existing medical center tower built in 1980. This public meeting is set for Jan. 21 at 4 p.m. in Conference Room 1 in the Chico City Council Chamber building at 421 Main Street. The proposed plans modify the exterior of the upper floors (second through fourth floors) of the existing patient tower so the design complements that of the patient tower currently being built. An agenda will be posted on the City of Chico website at http://www.chico.ca.us. Click on the Meetings & Events link, and then on Jan. 21 on the calendar.

If you enjoy observing construction progress but do not get around to the medical center often, we invite you to look at our slide shows, which are tracking the expansion. You can see photographs of the Enloe Parking Structure construction from start to finish, and watch the patient tower as it rises. Just visit www.enloe.org/century.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Beam Signing Celebration on Oct. 29. Many from Enloe and the community stopped by to listen to the speakers and sign the beam, which will become part our bell tower in the patient tower. We also introduced the new public art at the parking structure along Magnolia Avenue. If you have not seen it, next time you’re nearby, we recommend you take a peek. The art, created by local artists, will be on display through mid-March. We will auction off several of the pieces at our Enloe Gala on March 21. The proceeds will be split between the artists and Enloe’s Planetree fund. Check our website soon for more photos of the event, the artwork and artists, at www.enloe.org/planetree.

Enloe launched a public art project for the Parking Structure, and sixteen local artists submitted their proposals. A panel of nine judges from the arts community and Enloe selected nine artists from the submissions. The artists will be announced shortly and begin creating their pieces. The art will be placed in arched alcoves along Magnolia Avenue. The first round will be displayed from October 2008 through April 2009, and then be auctioned off at a Planetree gala, with half of the proceeds going to the individual artists and half to Enloe’s Planetree fund. We envision three rounds of selections over the years. Ultimately Enloe will purchase nine permanent pieces.