The historic and iconic Norton Air Force Base water tower, a long-standing San Bernardino landmark, was lifted in one complete piece the morning of Tuesday, August 24, 2021, and installed that same afternoon at its new permanent location at San Manuel Landing at the southeast corner of Victoria Avenue and 3rd Street in San Bernardino, CA. Built in 1959 by the U.S. Air Force at Norton Air Force Base, the 160-foot tower provided the base’s water supply.
A highly-skilled team of crane operators, welders, pipe fabricators, and crane riggers and laborers from Long Beach-based Bragg Companies, had the distinction of moving the massive water tower at the former Norton Air Force Base. For more than 75 years, Bragg Companies has been a part of some of the largest and most iconic development projects in the Southland.
The water tower was installed 600 feet to the west where it will serve as the focal point of San Manuel Landing, featuring drought-tolerant landscaping and artistic murals paying homage to San Bernardino’s history. The water tower weighs approximately 128 tons and can hold a volume of 250,000 gallons. The carefully orchestrated move involved a crawler crane manufactured by the same company that helped unload the Space Shuttle Endeavor when it arrived in Los Angeles in 2012. The 825-ton crane lifted the water tower in one piece, turned it 90 degrees to the path of travel, and then “walked” it to its new location progressing about 60 feet at a time as crews set up wooden beams on which the crane traveled on. The travel rate was approximately one foot per minute.
San Manuel Landing is one of San Manuel Band of Mission Indians’ latest investments in urban renewal and community revitalization. In addition to creating construction jobs and permanent jobs, the development will add an estimated $6M in direct financial impact to the region through the payment of impact fees and permits and approximately $1M per year in property taxes. Designed to meet both CALGreen Certifications and Leadership in Energy Environmental Design (LEED) specifications, the 1.1M square foot complex is thoughtfully designed, incorporating a greenway heralded by the iconic Norton Air Force Base water tower at its entrance with extensive landscaping throughout. The center will use innovative “green” technology, including solar energy, accommodations for electric truck and vehicle charging, and an onsite truck staging area.
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