New Building At Norwood Hospital Ready Next Month
Work Rapidly Nearing Completion On Modern Boiler House, Laundry
Attractively designed in modernistic style with large windows that add to its spacious appearance, the new boiler house and laundry building at the rear of the Norwood Hospital is rapidly nearing completion and will be ready for occupancy next month Ground for the new building was broken in December and despite the heavy winter snowfalls and spring rains, work has proceeded without interruption.
The new plant counts on a two-story building that will house the boiler room and laundry, and a closed-in hallway that connects the new annex with the main hospital building At present the interior of the building is being finished, and workmen are excavating the huge pit where a 20,000-gallon tank for fuel oil will be placed. The excavation for the tank will be lined with concrete before the tank is lowered into it. Hie Installation of pipes from the street has been completed and after the construction is finished the land will be grassed and landscaped.
Utilizing the small space at the rear ot the Hospital to the fullest extent, the building was designed by Curtin & Riley, Hospital architects. Ot first class construction, it has concrete floors, brick walls with cement blocks, steel beams, steel windows, and door frames.‘The two new boilers have already been installed in the deep cellar of the building, and overhead pipes will be covered from sight as much as possible. The large laundry is well-illuminated and airy, with almost two complete walls of window space. In addition to the laundry, the second floor will house locker rooms, restrooms, and toilets.
The expansion was begun due to the condition of the present boilers located in the Corner House, which have been in use for many years. The State requested that their use be discontinued at the earliest possible time, making the expansion project an imperative one. The Hospital trustees mapped out the expansion program and in December a campaign was started to raise funds for the new building.
Of the S370.000 raised, $193,259 was paid in cash, and the balance in pledges, to be paid over a period of three years. Several towns failed to meet their quotas in the campaign and efforts will be continued in these communities to collect the balance, so that the full building program now contemplated can be carried out.
Some thirteen builders were invited to figure the contract, which was awarded to the lowest bidder Vappi & Company of Cambridge. The cost will be approximately $200.000 The two large Kewanee oil-burning boilers were specified as well as the 20,000-gallon fuel tank, which will take approximately 480 barrels of oil to fill.
(All articles originally appeared in the Norwood Messenger unless otherwise noted)