SSM Health preschool progresses quickly

SKYE POURNAZARI/DAILY FORUM
The walls of the new SSM Health St. Francis Hospital Preschool and Child Care Center are up and shown Monday.

With classic rock in the air and the, “thwunk,” of nails securing their places in wood, employees of Herner Construction Co., make quick work Monday of the walls of the new SSM Health St. Francis Hospital Preschool and Child Care Center, just west of the hospital.

“We’ve been pleased with all the progress we’ve seen,” Megan Jennings, development officer for the St. Francis Hospital Foundation said. “You know we had the weather turn cold there for a little bit.”

She said they were able to complete the, “most important part,” the concrete pour before the weather turned chilly.

They also had been concerned about the possibility of supply costs going up because of this year’s active hurricane season.

“But we were able to work through all that,” she said. “We’re excited, looking out there and seeing all the progress.”

Herner Construction Superintendent Corey Damgar said there haven’t been any significant problems or delays.

“It’s going great,” he said. “We’re just hoping to beat the snow and the cold weather.”

The walls of the building went up so fast because the company worked on two projects at once.

“While they were doing all the underground work, we went ahead and built the walls off in the parking lot and right here in the playground,” Damgar said. “We were able to slap it together once they got done (with the concrete). We made it look like it went quick anyway.”

Jennings said the goal is to move into the facility in August 2018 and that they’re still fundraising for the project. For more information on how to help, contact Jennings at [email protected].

SKYE POURNAZARI/DAILY FORUM
Herner Construction Co. employees Lyle Powell, left, and Denver Green, right, work Monday, to enclose the new SSM Health St. Francis Hospital Preschool and Child Care Center. The walls have gone up quickly in the last few day and employees say it’s because two projects were worked on at once, in an attempt to enclose the building before it snows.