Heavy Metal

Big Iron moves into the Building for Transformative Medicine.

"Big Iron" is a slang term for large, heavy equipment. In healthcare, it refers to big devices such as MRIs. Photo by Lightchaser Photography
“Big Iron” is a slang term for large, heavy equipment. In healthcare, it refers to big devices such as MRIs. (Photo by Lightchaser Photography)

In July, construction crews lowered several tons of Big Iron into the Building for Transformative Medicine through removable panels in the sidewalk.

Devices such as MRI magnets, the largest of which weighs more than 22 tons, are lowered by a crane through the shaft onto a platform capable of supporting more than 50 tons of equipment. The platform can be maneuvered down a wide, underground corridor, guided into the imaging suite, and settled onto floor mounts. This innovative design enables the hospital to upgrade or replace equipment in the future without disrupting patient care.