You won't see those Scrabble-like letters spelling out ECMC atop Erie County Medical Center for a while.

That's because work crews have temporarily removed the familiar green and white letters from the hospital's tower so they can be upgraded, and to allow a window replacement project to reach that section of the complex.

A 300-foot telescoping crane removed the letters on Saturday from ECMC's 12th-floor roof and lowered them to a first-floor roof of the complex, where they will be stored and refurbished, said Peter Cutler, an ECMC spokesman.

"It went well," Cutler said. "The process went as hoped."

The letters are expected to be out of sight for 2½ to three months before they are reinstalled.

Each letter measures 14 feet high by 14 feet wide. By the time they are back in service, they will be refinished and have new, energy-efficient, color-changing LED lights.

ECMC initially planned to use a helicopter to remove the letters, but decided a crane was a better option, Cutler said. Work crews were prepared to take down the letters last weekend, but delayed the job by one week due to high winds.

With the letters temporarily out of the way, another major project can unfold in that section of the hospital.

ECMC is in the midst of a window replacement program that started in summer 2018 and should be completed in 2021. The hospital has tackled that project in sections, to limit disruptions to patient rooms. When complete, more than 4,150 windows will have been replaced.

The new windows have a blue tint. Below the window panels are glass panels, replacing the old, brown metal panels. The concrete between the windows are being painted a lighter tan.

The project will make the complex more energy-efficient and provide a fresher look. Plus, the blue tint of the windows will match the appearance of the behavioral health outpatient center next door.

The program to improve ECMC's exterior is only one of the projects transforming the East Side health care complex.

Last month, ECMC celebrated the opening of its new main entrance, the Russell J. Salvatore Atrium. The new entrance debuted three years after Salvatore announced his $1 million donation to ECMC's capital campaign.

The hospital also is on track to open its KeyBank Trauma and Emergency Department in mid to late May. "It's moving along very well," Cutler said.

ECMC's current trauma and emergency department dates to 1978. The new facility will provide a much-needed upgrade. The current facility was built to serve 45,000 patients a year but treats more than 70,000 patients a year.

Story topics: health care / Local News / Matt Glynn