CHICAGO — On October 20th, 2009, the Associated Steel Erectors and the American Institute of Steel Construction hosted a breakfast presentation and project site tour of the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. This project will be the tallest Children’s Hospital in the United States at 24 stories and more than 1.25 million square feet.

The presentation focused on the challenges and successes that the structural engineer, contractor, and erector experienced throughout the design and construction process and answered how building information modeling (BIM) and early project involvement by the contractor and specialty contractor provided the owner with a comprehensive building result.

The six speakers included:

• Todd Alwood of AISC welcoming attendees to the event and updating them on the launch of www.steelTools.org, Modern Steel Constructions’ Healthcare Issue, and thanking the event sponsors;
• Lanny Flynn of Magnusson Klemencic Associates explains how the function requirements drove the design of the building through a series of major transfer trusses, a 42’-0" mechanical level in the center of the building, and cantilever patient levels;
• Robert Gallo of Power Construction shares WHY this project was a success from the point of view of the contractor: constructability through communication;
• Peter Rumpf of Mortenson Construction relates the role that BIM played in terms of collaboration between the structure and mechanical disciplines and having each involved early on the project;
• David Ruby of Ruby Associates elaborates on the forgotten side of construction – the engineer of erection;
• Ronald Goetze of Ruby Associates examines the difficulties in designing the staging and erection of the cantilever portion for the patient levels.

The presentations were recorded are available to view, along with a virtual tour of the hospital at www.aisc.org/childrenshospital.