Campus Construction Update for July 20

These are among the construction activities scheduled July 20-26 at the University of Wyoming:

15th and Lewis Street Closure -- (General contractor Mechanical Systems Inc., Cheyenne; scheduled completion June 2015) -- The intersection of 15th and Lewis streets will be closed through Aug. 24. Traffic will be detoured around the intersection via Willett Drive, 22nd Street and Harney Street. Lewis Street will be closed from 10th Street to 15th Street through Oct. 31. Pedestrian access will be via the sidewalk on the north side of Lewis Street. Excavation work also will be ongoing west of 19th Street, and the sidewalk in the area will remain closed. Be aware of barricades, traffic signs and heavy equipment in these areas. UW transit routes will be redirected during construction. Maps of the 15th and Lewis Street closures and the associated transit route can be seen here.

Steam Shutdown -- The UW Physical Plant reports that the annual campus steam shutdown will begin Friday, July 25, at 5 p.m., and continue through the morning of Tuesday, Aug. 25. Most campus buildings bounded from 22nd to Ninth and Ivinson to Lewis streets will not have hot water or steam during the shutdown. A portable boiler will be placed in the area of Washakie Dining Hall beginning July 21 and remain on site until Aug. 27.

No Water in Performing Arts Center -- Water will be shut off at the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts Wednesday, July 23-Friday, July 25. Electrical power will be shut down all day Saturday, July 26.

Grand Avenue Reconstruction (Wyoming Department of Transportation) -- Construction work on Grand Avenue is on track to be completed by Aug. 27. Click here to read Friday’s story in the Laramie Boomerang. Grand Avenue is still closed from 15th-21st streets. Vehicle traffic is open on 19th Street, heading south only. The 17th Street parking lot is closed to resident vehicle parking, as this is the delivery truck route while the 17th Street access from Grand Avenue is closed. Be aware of “No Parking” and “Detour” signs, and barricades in the area. Access to traffic alternates between 17th and 19th depending on construction activities. Signs in the residence hall area direct the traffic to the appropriate access. Please use caution near heavy equipment and excavations in the area. Parking is prohibited in the residents’ parking lot west of Hill Hall and south of Orr Hall. UW Transit and Parking Services has rerouted both the Classroom Express and the Gem City Grand from the stops on King Street and Grand Avenue to north of the Information Technology Building along Sorority Row. For more information about residence hall access, pedestrian access and other activities affected by the project, click here.

Willett Parking -- Site improvement work for the Half Acre Gymnasium project will impact portions of Willett Drive. Through Aug. 24, all parking spaces along Willett Drive south of Wyoming Hall will be closed to facilitate increased construction traffic and movement of materials. Willett Drive will remain open to normal vehicular traffic; however, temporary traffic controls and signs will be established as needed by specific site activities. Temporary disability spaces have been established on the north side of Wyoming Hall. 

A second area of site improvement work associated with the Half Acre Gymnasium addition and renovation will impact portions of the parking lot east of the Wyoming Union through Aug. 24. Normal vehicular access to the parking lot will remain open; however, construction work along the north perimeter of this lot will require some temporary detours in that area. Temporary traffic controls and signs will be established as needed by specific site activities. Please observe all posted traffic control, construction signs and temporary flagging in the affected areas. 

Half Acre Gymnasium Addition and Renovation (General contractor Groathouse Construction Inc., Cody; scheduled completion of Phase 1, east reconstruction/addition, fall 2014; Phase 2, historic west renovation, spring 2015) -- Full project information is available here. Construction progress can be observed via the project webcam here. Half Acre Gymnasium remains open and accessible via the west entrance. The day lot parking area and roadway immediately east of Half Acre Gymnasium is closed. Temporary day-use parking has been established in the lot east of the Wyoming Union.

Construction and staging areas north, south and east of the existing building have been established and are closed to all vehicular and pedestrian traffic, except that which is construction related. Access to Prexy’s Pasture from the east Wyoming Union parking lot between Half Acre and the Wyoming Union is closed until further notice. Please use alternate routes through the Wyoming Union or between the union and Coe Library. Heavy truck traffic, including construction materials transport, concrete trucks and other haulers, will be frequent on Willett Drive west of 15th Street and along the perimeter of the Wyoming Union parking lot. Temporary traffic controls and signs are either in place or will be established as needed by specific site activities. Construction work for Phase 1, consisting of the reconstruction/addition of the east portion of the existing building, continues this week. The general structural and supporting components of the addition are in place, including foundation, earthwork, under-slab building systems, building utilities, interior structural shear wall, structural steel frame, and interior slab-on-grade and slab-on-deck construction. Interior construction is continuing, with building systems rough-in, masonry, wall and ceiling systems framing, and fireproofing underway. Exterior building enclosure work has begun, including exterior framing, envelope thermal and moisture protection systems, stone and brick masonry, openings and roofing. Specialty building equipment, including climbing wall/pinnacle components and penthouse HVAC units, have been delivered and are in process of being installed.

As anticipated by the recent temporary expansion of the construction and staging area along the pedestrian pathways north of Half Acre Gymnasium between Prexy’s Pasture and Willett Drive, including the closure of portions of the Lab School playground through approximately Aug. 1, a sub-phase of the reconstruction/addition has begun to build out the northwest structural steel frame and concrete slab-on-grade and slab-on-deck adjacent to the retained existing stone walls. Pedestrian access in this vicinity will remain open; however, the construction effort on this sub-phase will result in increased congestion.

Enzi STEM Facility (General contractor AP Wyoming, Cheyenne; Lewis Street between 10th and 11th streets; scheduled completion May 2015) -- Lewis Street remains closed between 10th and 11th streets. Please note that this project is being managed and administered by the State Construction Office. Structural backfill on site and backfill at foundations are nearing completion and will proceed in areas along the east as foundation work is completed. Remaining major underground utilities, electrical, water, sewer and storm water are nearing completion along the north of the building. Placement of underground interior utilities along with foundation and shear walls at elevator/stairs -- including wall forms, steel reinforcing and concrete -- will continue this month. Steel erection is underway and has moved to the east. Concrete slabs will continue to be poured on the east side at the second and third floors as steel deck and reinforcing is ready. Concrete slabs will follow the steel erection around the building. Concrete placement on the first floor slab has started, with portions of the west slab completed. Concrete placement is ongoing as areas are prepared. Structural steel will continue to be received on site through mid-July at the rate of several trucks per week. Concrete, reinforcing steel and fill material delivery will continue based on requirements to sustain the work in progress. Watch for ongoing utility work at Lewis and 11th Street with related street closures; a firm date for completion is not available.

Watch for construction traffic on Lewis, 10th, 11th and Bradley streets. Congestion will be a problem along Lewis with the impact of the utility work. For safety, pedestrians should make eye contact with equipment operators and delivery drivers outside the fenced area so they are aware of their presence. There will be materials and equipment delivered to site and storage yards along Lewis Street, with resulting heavy truck traffic. Job trailers, storage containers, materials and equipment are in storage yards east along Lewis Street. There will be equipment moving materials from storage to site.

Hollows Sidewalk ADA Improvements (General contractor Sweckard Excavation LLC, Laramie; between Ivinson Street and Merica Hall/Old Main) -- The contractor has nearly completed all work on this project. The last sections of new concrete sidewalk near Ivinson Street are scheduled to be poured this week. Finish grading and remaining sod installation will then take place. New high-efficiency LED lighting fixtures have been installed at the new ADA sidewalks, at existing sidewalks along Ivinson Street and west of Old Main. The straight section of sidewalk from Ivinson Street to Merica Hall and diagonal section of sidewalk from Ivinson Street to Old Main remain closed for construction activities. Construction site fencing will be removed during the week. Until then, pedestrians are advised to take alternate routes to both Merica Hall and Old Main from the Ivinson Street parking lot. All work on this project will be substantially complete by July 25.

Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts (General contractor Sampson Construction, Cheyenne; Fine Arts Building renovation and expansion; scheduled completion December 2014) -- Water will be shut off Wednesday, July 23-Friday, July 25. Electrical power will be shut down all day Saturday, July 26.

The parking lot on the east side of the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts is closed and is being used for construction staging. Building visitors should use the parking lot on the north side of the building. Those entering the Performing Arts Center must now enter through the doors on the building’s west side. This will be the entrance for all building operations, including classes, ticket purchases and performances, until construction is complete.

The building heating system is shut off for upgrades through mid-September. Part of the west sidewalk along the north end is partially closed to pedestrians through August during the installation of an electrical equipment screened wall and landscaping. Footing excavation, rebar placement and pouring, along with foundation, are complete. Grade beam exaction and forming is complete. Backfill is complete. Steel erection is ongoing on the east side of the addition. Exterior framing, sheathing and vapor barrier installation are continuing on the north. Roofing is 60 percent complete. Interior framing/drywall, rough-in plumbing, duct work and electrical are ongoing. Concrete slabs on grade and on metal decking are 95 percent complete. The northwest addition foundation wall forming and masonry is complete, with steel erection beginning in the next two weeks. Work in the existing building is ongoing. Heavy truck traffic will be frequent near War Memorial Fieldhouse, 22nd Street and Willett Drive, and along the road west of the College of Law Building.

Biological Sciences Building Mechanical Modifications (General Contractor Independent Heating and Sheet Metal, Laramie) -- Start-up for the evaporative cooling in the lab areas is complete. Commissioning work on the evaporative cooling system is complete. Fifth-floor ceiling grid, duct modifications and lighting are complete. Ceiling panels will be installed the week of July 21.

ESCo Project (Long Energy Solutions, Casper) -- Wyoming State Vet Lab air distribution and control work are complete. Engineering air distribution and control work has begun. Non-lab area work has started on the sixth floor and is working down throughout the summer. The lab area work will be a mix of floors throughout the summer. The heating system in the Engineering Building is down through August. College of Agriculture Building new VAV installations for non-lab areas are complete.

Arena-Auditorium Renovations (General contractor Haselden Constructors, Casper; Willett Drive; scheduled completion fall 2014) -- Phase 1 of the Arena-Auditorium renovations is approximately 60 percent complete. The ADA seating platforms are being constructed within the arena at the concourse level. The new railings have begun installation in the lower rows and will work up toward the concourse level. Speakers have been installed on the upper catwalk in the arena and painting of the catwalk/ speaker brackets is underway. Demolition and reconstruction of the room housing the sump pump are underway adjacent to the truck tunnel. Drywall in the women’s basketball locker room and the visiting team locker is 95 percent complete. Drywall also has started installation in the majority of the lower level as the completion of the mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems allows. Tile installation will begin this week.

Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center (General contractor Haselden Constructors, Casper; 22nd and Grand; scheduled completion fall 2014) -- The Gateway Center is approximately 80 percent complete. The exterior cladding, a brown fiber cement panel installation, is approximately 80 percent complete; current installation is concentrated on the west elevation. Site work on the south side of the building is ongoing and currently consists of the installation of underground electrical and placement of landscaping boulders. The asphalt drive lanes have been installed on the north drive loop/ drop-off area. Interior finishes are nearing completion on the north portion of the first floor, and final review and approvals of this area will begin in the next week. On the south portion of the first floor, painting is complete and flooring is being installed. Installation of the environmental graphics and related casework has started in the Memorial Concourse. Tile work is ongoing on the second and third floors. Air handling units were turned on and commissioned beginning July 1. Additional project information is available here. Click here for updated images taken by the construction cam.

Golf Practice Facility (General contractor Spiegelberg Lumber and Building Co., Laramie) -- This project is substantially complete and occupancy has been taken, with all access and site restrictions removed. Minor remaining items of work are yet to be completed by construction crews. Please observe any temporary provisions in place to accommodate the work.

Education Annex -- Literacy Research Center and Clinic (General contractor Shepard Construction Inc., Rawlins) -- This project is substantially complete and occupancy has been taken, with all access and site restrictions removed. Some minor work is yet to be completed by construction crews. Please observe any temporary provisions in place to accommodate the work.

Education Annex Canopy (General contractor Elk Ridge Builders & Design LLC, Laramie) -- This project is substantially complete and occupancy has been taken, with all access and site restrictions removed. Minor remaining items of work are yet to be completed by construction crews. Please observe any temporary provisions in place to accommodate the work.

McIntyre Hall (General contractor Sampson Construction, Cheyenne) -- Window replacement is continuing from the 12th floor and will work down through the summer. Barricades are placed around the ground-level perimeter. Use caution around the area. Apartment remodeling and valve replacement are continuing. The contractor staging is on the south side of Orr Hall.

The UW Physical Plant has 335 projects in progress valued at more than $20.5 million. Following is a list of ongoing construction activities in areas of campus that may impact you:

Washakie/McIntyre Complex -- Steam service to the buildings will be interrupted July 24 from 6 a.m.-4:30 p.m. for system upgrades. A section of the basement corridor between McIntyre Hall and Washakie Center will be closed during this time.

Wyoming Union -- Abatement and flooring crews will be working in the following areas: The Gardens, billiard hall, information desk, breezeway lounge areas, Fireplace Lounge, and north of Rolling Mill Cafe. Renovation activities may generate minor noise in the areas. Please use caution around crews and equipment.

Wyoming Union (Vasquez Construction, Laramie, August 2014) -- Work will begin to replace stairs with a ramp in the dock area north of the food court. Access to the dock area may be interrupted at times. Please use caution near crews and materials in the area.

Rochelle Athletics Center (Marshall Contracting, Laramie, Phase 1 scheduled completion August 2014) – Work has begun to renovate the north wing of the second level. Demolition operations may cause noise in adjoining areas. Construction will mostly be contained within the northwest wing of the second level. Staging will be located on the exterior of the building’s north side. Please proceed with caution in and around this area, especially on the elevator directly adjacent to the work area.

Rochelle Athletics Center (General contractor Arcon Inc., Laramie, scheduled completion this month) -- Work is ongoing in Room 206 to modify the area into a film room. Work to remove fixtures and cap utilities is underway. The work will primarily take place inside Room 206, but be aware of ladders, tools and equipment in the corridor.

Fieldhouse North (General contractor Elk Ridge Builders., Laramie, scheduled completion October 2014) -- Renovations are ongoing in the wrestling room, break room (047) and support spaces. Demolition operations may cause noise in adjoining areas. Construction will mostly be contained within the west end of the Fieldhouse basement. Staging will be located on the exterior of the building’s east side. Please proceed with caution in and around this area, especially on the staircase directly adjacent to the work area.

Landmark Apartments -- Painting of exterior doors is ongoing. Please use caution near painting crews and equipment.

McWhinnie Hall/Education (General contractor Elk Ridge Builders, Laramie; scheduled completion September 2014) -- Work is ongoing to enhance ADA parking and landscaping improvements north of McWhinnie Hall. The ADA spaces north of McWhinnie will not be available, and the sidewalk between McWhinnie Hall and the Education Building will be closed to pedestrian traffic for the duration of the project. Intermittent closures to the parking lot east of the Education Annex will occur throughout the summer. Pedestrian access to UniWyo FCU will be maintained during all stages of construction. Please follow posted signage and be aware of construction activities in the area. A map of the UniWyo FCU pedestrian detour can be seen here.

Spanish Walk, River Village and Landmark Apartments -- Maintenance work will be ongoing throughout the summer in various building of the apartment complexes. Please use caution near crews and equipment.

Classroom Building -- Work is ongoing east of the Classroom Building, for water remediation. Waterproofing repairs have been completed and backfill is in progress. Concrete repairs are scheduled for the week of July 21. Please proceed with caution near the construction site.

Agriculture Building Addition (General contractor Mullen’s Heating, Laramie; scheduled completion July 2014) -- Installation of new filters in all penthouse air handling units continues. Air supply will be greatly reduced when the air handler is off, but the exhaust system and fume hood system will remain operational during installation.

UW Planetarium (General contractor Arcon Inc., Laramie; scheduled completion September 2014) -- Renovations are complete to bring the existing ramp into ADA compliance. Aesthetic improvements will continue through the summer in the planetarium and the adjacent elevator lobby. Infrastructure for a new digitally integrated projection system, new graphics/complete facade and all new seating will commence the first week in August. Please be aware of crews and equipment in the area.

Engineering Building (General contractor Independent Heating and Sheet Metal, Laramie; scheduled completion September 2014) -- Air management and digital control upgrades to improve building efficiency are ongoing. The hot water circulation system for building heat will be disabled and drained until the end of summer following installation of new devices. Be aware of ladders and equipment in the corridors.

Energy Innovation Center (General contractor The Plumbing Company, Laramie; scheduled completion September 2014) -- Work is ongoing to replace HVAC equipment in Room 377. Be aware of crews in the area.

General Storage Addition (General contractor Arcon Inc., Laramie; scheduled completion September 2014) -- Construction is complete. Landscaping will be ongoing, as will punch-list items. Shipping and Receiving operations will continue throughout construction. Remaining exterior site work includes drainage work on the west side of the parking/drive area, additional parking locations to the north, and construction of a “Z-wall”. Please limit traffic on Gibbon Street between 15th and 19th streets to building users only. Always use caution around the construction site and construction vehicles, and observe all posted speed limits.

Sigma Phi Epsilon -- Excavation for the replacement of steam and condensate is ongoing. Parking spaces on both sides of Sorority Row, adjacent to the north side of the building, will be partitioned off for staging and construction activity. Backfill and landscape repairs will begin July 21. Please be cautious of equipment and vehicles in the area.

Student Health Services -- Work is complete for flooring installation. Additional replacement of flooring will begin at a later date.

Spanish Walk Apartments -- Landscaping operations are complete.