Skybridge @ Community North Hospital

General Contractor: Summit Construction

Software: XSteel by Tekla

Sloping, curving horizontally and requiring 3 cranes and 3 Skyjacks in simultaneous coordination, erection of the Skybridge @ Community North Hospital in Indianapolis was the rapid yet successful culmination of many hours of Fabricator-Detailer discussions, dozens of 3-D Modeling examples and a synthesis of Design intent and fabrication shop capability. Detailed in 3-D in just 4 weeks, the Fabricator was able to conceptualize the finished product, theoretically 'build' the complete box truss bridge, then knock it down for transportation to the jobsite.

Conceived as a six-part sectional knocked-down truss, 3 Left and 3 Right, the Fabricator built the sections 'convex down' on the shop floor, making each resemble large, radiused lengths of railroad track. This allowed for much easier trucking to the jobsite, while at the same time allowing for relatively simple fit-up in the field by the Erector.

After welding left and right sections of braced top and bottom chords together and creating the 3 'box' trusses, which included field-welding over 90 roof and floor members, each crane lifted one section into place while the Ironworkers bolted and welded the attachments to the buildings on either side, then welded the end sections to the middle, creating one complete box truss.