Massive Steel Beams “Flying” as UCSD’s Price Center Grows

Massive Steel Beams
“Flying” as UCSD’s Price Center Grows

December 18, 2006

By Paul Mueller

An artist’s conception of the Price Center at its expected completion in January 2008.

Expansion of the Price Center at UC San Diego moved into the “flying steel” phase today (Dec. 18), after completion of the concrete flooring for new portions of the building.

“This is a pretty important milestone,” said Paul Terzino, associate director of the Price Center and current interim director. “Starting today we begin ‘flying,’ or installing the steel beams. This project will use the largest steel sections ever used on the campus – 650 pounds per foot – and they’re only rolled in Europe.”

Other notable facts about the ongoing construction:

The steel delivery will require 200 semi-truck loads
The delivery will include over 1,400 steel beams and sections
Total weight of the steel will be 1,800 tons (3.6 million pounds)
The value of the steel used is $8 million
The crane used to “fly” the steel is the largest construction crane ever used at UC San Diego.

The university’s community center, the Price Center is expanding in response to enrollment growth. Enrollment has increased 70 percent since the original facility opened.

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The largest construction crane ever used at UC San Diego will “fly” 1,400 steel beams and sections (weighing 3.6 million pounds) during expansion work on the university’s Price Center. The center is expanding in response to enrollment growth, up 70 percent since the original facility opened.

The expansion will double the size of the facility and will include six new restaurants, expanded bookstore, coffee shop, Asian tea shop, full-service bank, meeting rooms, nightclub and a second ballroom. Also planned is more space for student organizations, more lounge, study and computing space, and a 24-hour area that will include late-night dining.

UC San Diego Associated Students established a task force in 2002, conducted a survey, and got students to approve a $39 quarterly fee to help fund the expansion. “Students have played a lead role in developing the design,” Terzino said.

The project should be completed by January of 2008.

Media Contact: Paul Terzino, 858-534-6725