Donors Take Demolition to New Heights at Valleywise Health
In late November, Deann Gates, Director of Business Development and Sales at Jacobsen Construction, had the experience of a lifetime at Valleywise Health’s central Phoenix medical campus. She was part of a five-person team that won the opportunity to ride in the world’s largest demolition excavator thanks to a generous donation made at the annual “A Night in the Valley” fundraiser.
Known as the Cat 5130B UHD, the excavator used for this experiential opportunity was a demolition giant weighing more than 400 tons. It can lift a 25-ton shear 150 feet in the air and cut through 46-inch steel beams with ease. The excavator is currently being used on the construction project focused on creating space for facility upgrades at the Valleywise Health campus.
The demolition of the Legacy Hospital marks one of the most significant moments in the transformation of the Valleywise Health Medical Center campus. After more than 50 years of serving as a cornerstone for trauma care, medical training and community healing, the former Maricopa Medical Center is making way for improved facilities and services in the Valley’s healthcare community.
“As part of a leading construction company, I understand the importance of best practices on a worksite,” said Gates. “However, after being inside this enormous piece of powerful equipment, I gained an even deeper appreciation for the skill, training and focus required to operate machinery of this scale, not to mention how critical safety awareness is when working with heavy equipment.”
In conjunction with the experience, Gates and the other Valleywise Health Foundation supporters, including Marisa Palomo from PENTA Building Group; Timothy and Amy Louis, dedicated philanthropists; a representative from Cunningham Law Group; and Dr. Kevin Foster, Medical Director at the Arizona Burn Center, got the chance to see what it takes to demolish a building first-hand.
From the excavator’s cab, the Valleywise Health Foundation live auction winners, under the guidance of a skilled construction crew, got to control the boom and stick as it safely lifted, moved and removed sections of the building and surrounding rubble.
“At Jacobsen Construction, we are invested in the community,” Gates added. “Our role across Arizona is not just about building hospitals and other structures but also providing a place where individuals can go to get world-class healthcare. We are very proud to be associated with Valleywise Health and look forward to growing our relationship in the future.”
