Building on the Cross

As crews poured the foundation for the east wing of the Building on Excellence South Tower, a familiar shape was quickly evident.

The cross-shaped footing will reinforce a T-shaped sheer wall from the foundation all the way through the fifth floor of the tower. The shape was unintentional; the vertical leg of the wall required a certain size foundation and the horizontal leg another. Together, they created a perfect cross.

Having one of the main foundations of the new building built on a cross seems providential when looking at Saint Francis Medical Center's rich Catholic heritage. Although difficult to see now, when the current building was designed, it too was in the shape of a cross!

Photo by Mark Culberson, Building on Excellence Construction Coordinator