Campus Construction Update for Aug. 16

These are among the construction activities scheduled Aug. 16-22 at the University of Wyoming:

Power Outage (UW Physical Plant and Fremont Electric, Laramie) -- To correct an overheating connection of the electrical feed to west campus, Physical Plant will conduct an electrical outage Saturday, Aug. 15, at 8 a.m. The following buildings will experience a four- to eight-hour outage, but will have emergency generator power, if available: Engineering and Engineering Addition, Bureau of Mines (no emergency power), Berry Center, Geology, Earth Sciences, Geological Survey (no emergency power) and Energy Innovation Center. The following buildings will experience a 10- to 15-minute outage at 8 a.m. and another when power is restored: Half Acre, Coe Library, Knight Hall, Ross Hall, Merica Hall, Aven Nelson, Biological Sciences, Wyoming Union, College of Business, Hoyt Hall, Student Health/Cheney Center, Old Main, Williams Conservatory and Classroom Building. For departments with critical loads, please contact Steve Fletcher to make arrangements.

Water Shutdown (UW Physical Plant and Stonehouse Inc., Laramie) -- Excavation of the sidewalk between the College of Education Building and Half Acre Gym will begin Wednesday, Aug. 19, to allow crews to perform water line repairs. A water shutdown will occur Aug. 20 from 7 a.m.-noon in the following buildings: Half Acre, McWhinnie Hall, Education, Agriculture, Engineering and Petroleum-Aeronautics. During the shutdown, there will be no water or restroom facilities available. Campus access will be via the sidewalk between McWhinnie Hall and Education. Building occupants will need to use facilities in adjacent buildings.    

Steam Shutdown -- The annual steam shutdown will continue through Monday, Aug. 17. The shutdown affects campus buildings in the area of Ninth-22nd streets, and Grand Avenue to Harney Street. There will be no building heat or domestic hot water for most facilities during this period. A temporary boiler is in place for the residence halls and cafeterias. It is anticipated that steam should be restored by late afternoon Aug. 17.

30th and Willett Streets (City of Laramie) -- Installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of 30th and Willett streets is ongoing. Work will require street closures in this immediate area. Access to the Glenn “Red” Jacoby Golf Course will be detoured via Joanna Bruner Drive. Detour information is located here.

Wyoming Union Parking Lot (Simon Contractors, Cheyenne, August 2015) -- Rehabilitation of the Wyoming Union parking lot is now substantially complete. It is anticipated to reopen Aug. 24. Alternative parking will remain on Fraternity and Sorority Row through the closure. Willett Drive is now one way from the McWhinnie/Wyoming Hall parking lot to 15th Street. The parking spaces immediately east of McWhinnie Hall will be designated bus parking only. Parking and detour information is located here.

The UW Facilities Planning Office reports the following activities for the week:

High Bay Research Facility (General contractor Haselden Wyoming Constructors, Laramie; 19th Street; scheduled completion fall 2016) -- Drilled pier foundations for the west portion of the building began July 20. Over lot/rough grading activities are ongoing. Stem walls have been poured at the west and south sides of the south wing of the building. Reinforcing steel has been placed, forms have been set, and concrete has been poured for the foundation of the strong wall in the Structures Laboratory. 

Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts (General contractor Sampson Construction, Cheyenne; Fine Arts Building renovation and expansion; scheduled completion August 2015) -- The parking lot on the east side of the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts is closed and is being rebuilt, with asphalt complete and landscaping ongoing. 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.

A temporary certificate of occupancy was issued from the city Friday, June 12, and the new addition is occupied, except for the Recital Hall, the Thrust Theater, Thrust Theater back of house and the new box office. Fire alarm and life-safety tests with the city are complete. Punch-list work is ongoing. Recital Hall acoustic curtain installation is complete. Thrust Theater work is ongoing. AV installations are complete, with commissioning scheduled Aug. 24-26. HVAC commissioning is 90 percent complete. Theatrical systems final commissioning is complete. Temporary trailers on Fraternity Row have been moved out. The west-side landscaping is complete.

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.

McIntyre Hall (General contractor Sampson Construction, Cheyenne; scheduled completion August 2015) -- Window replacement was completed last summer for the floors 8-12. Window replacement for floors 1-7 and RA rooms 2-12 is 95 percent complete. Punch-list work is ongoing.

Half Acre Gymnasium Addition and Renovation (General contractor Groathouse Construction Inc., Cody; Phase 1 east reconstruction/addition was substantially completed March 13; Phase 2, historic west renovation, October 2015) -- Full project information is available here.

Phase 1 of the Half Acre Recreation and Wellness Center is open and well used this summer. Punch-list tasks and building technology subsystem work toward Phase 2 renovation will continue post-occupancy. Pedestrian access to the new south building entrance from Prexy’s Pasture and from the east Wyoming Union parking lot has reopened. Please observe temporary barricades, cautionary signs or other posted instructions in areas where work will continue.

The west historic entrance is closed for Phase 2 renovation. Additional construction and staging areas are being established. Phase 2 deconstruction activities are complete, and renovation is underway on the first floor. Renovation is underway throughout Phase 2, including mechanical and electrical rough-in and interior layout and framing. Concrete topping has been poured at the running track in the gym, which has been raised 3 feet to match the third floor of the addition. Aquatics subcontract work related to the existing pool, new pool plumbing and the new whirlpool is underway. Completion of Phase 2 renovation is now scheduled for fall 2015.

Construction and staging areas north, east and west of the existing building have been established and are closed to all vehicular and pedestrian traffic, except that which is construction related. Pedestrian pathways north and south of Half Acre Gymnasium remain open; however, the continuing construction activities in this vicinity will result in increased congestion. Temporary traffic controls, barricades 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.

ASUW Memorial Plaza (General contractor Arcon Inc., Laramie; scheduled completion October 2015) -- This project will construct a student memorial plaza with related landscaping at the east edge of Prexy’s Pasture, just west of Half Acre Gymnasium. The general contractor has set all of the large granite boulders into position and constructed the north sections of the vertical dry-stack stone planting wall. Earth berm work also is underway at the raised planting areas, along with underground sprinkler system modifications. New poured concrete sidewalks also are complete. This project is scheduled to be substantially complete (with the exception of alpine planting) by Oct. 1. The alpine planting work will take place during spring 2016. Please observe temporary barricades, cautionary signs or other posted instructions in areas where work is taking place.

Hoyt Hall Renovation (General contractor TBD; scheduled completion April 2016) -- This project is currently out for competitive bidding with an established bid date of Thursday, Aug. 27. A pre-bid meeting with interested contractors is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 17. After a construction contract has been approved, the Hoyt Hall renovation work is expected to begin by Oct. 1 and be substantially complete by April 29, 2016.

Michael B. Enzi STEM Facility (General contractor AP Wyoming, Cheyenne; Lewis Street between 10th and 11th streets; scheduled completion August 2015) -- Please note that this project is being managed and administered by the State Construction Office. The intersection of 11th and Lewis is open for pedestrian and vehicle traffic. The sidewalk on the south side of Lewis is open, and there is access to the Earth Science/EIC loading dock.

Asphalt patching has been completed at Lewis Street and adjacent to the new concrete curbs on 11th, 12th and Bradley Streets.

Construction activity continues throughout the building. Installation of ceiling grid is complete in the labs on all floors and is nearing completion in the atrium. Perimeter and cut-in tile is complete ahead of the field tile and lights. Ceiling grid is beginning in corridors and public areas. Laboratory casework is complete on the first and second floors. Laboratory hoods, along with lab tops, are being installed on the third floor. Final drywall work continues in the atrium ahead of painting and installation of acoustic wall paneling. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing rough-ins are finishing, and trim-out is underway throughout. Finishing of the installation of stairs and elevators continues. There will continue to be numerous man lifts around the perimeter of the building, allowing work to progress on the cornice, curtain wall and masonry. The mason will continue to work on the final installation of stone and coping in numerous areas of the exterior as site work and glazing systems allow.

Flashing and trim-out of the roof is proceeding on the penthouse and lower roofs as weather permits. Metal panel closure on the mechanical rooms and soffits is underway. Curtain wall and glass installation is nearing completion on the south. Materials are stocked on site, with installation proceeding as glass is fabricated. Work on the atrium interior walls and detail continues in conjunction with the completion of mechanical and electrical systems. Site work is underway on all sides of the site. Tree and other plant materials are being placed. This will cause intermittent disruptions to traffic on all surrounding streets. The construction office is relocated to the west on 10th Street, with access on the north from Bradley Street.

Watch for construction traffic on Lewis, 10th, 11th and Bradley streets. 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 equipment moving materials from storage to site, along with ongoing delivery of materials to site from vendors. You can visit the webcam here.

The UW Physical Plant has 327 projects in progress valued at more than $47.2 million. Following is a list of ongoing construction activities in areas of campus that may impact you:

Parking Lot Striping (UW Physical Plant) -- Lot striping will be ongoing on campus in the Summit View lot, weather permitting. The areas scheduled for striping will be temporarily blocked off during prep and spray times. Please observe posted traffic control signs in areas set for painting.

Jacoby Golf Course (Christensen Irrigation Co., Costa Mesa, Calif.; May 2016) -- Mobilization will begin to replace irrigation systems throughout the course. The contractor will have a staging area in the parking lot west of the clubhouse. Improvements are expected to decrease water consumption, reduce system maintenance and enhance aesthetics. Please use caution near crews and equipment in this area.

Old Main (UW Physical Plant) -- Concrete work to repair the steps on the west side of the building is scheduled to begin Aug. 17. Access will be via the east entrance. Please use caution near crews and equipment. 

Fraternity and Sorority Row and King Street (UW Physical Plant) -- Crews will sewer jet the sanitary sewer mains in various locations in these areas the week of Aug. 17. Please use caution near crews and equipment parked in the streets.

Sigma Phi Epsilon (Marshall Contracting, Laramie; September 2015) -- Repairs, replacement and repainting of the gutters, downspouts and fascia are in progress. Please use caution around crews and equipment in the area.

Orr and Downey Halls (KONE Inc., August 2015) -- A single elevator drive in each building is scheduled to be replaced Aug. 10-20. While the drive is being replaced, the elevator will be out of service. The other elevator(s) in the buildings will remain operational.

College of Agriculture Building -- Crews are working to repair a broken water main located between Agriculture and the Education Annex. Water has been restored to all facilities. A complete repair has not been made due to difficult access to utilities. Water interruptions are anticipated, and repairs continue. Building occupants will be notified of any outages. Access to the area is limited, and the sidewalk between Agriculture and Education will remain closed. Please use caution around heavy equipment.

Coe Library (Laramie Heating & Sheet Metal, Laramie; August 2015) -- Work will begin on duct and plumbing modifications to all floors to resolve building pressurization issues. Work is anticipated to create noise and dust in work areas. Crews will begin on the sixth floor and move to the first floor as work progresses. Expect all floors to be impacted. Please use caution in work areas and equipment.

Biological Sciences (Lance’s Painting, Laramie; September 2015) -- The east side of the building will be re-sealed at all windows, concrete control joints and expansion joints. There will be a lift staged on the sidewalk to the east of the building throughout the project. Please be cautious around the lift and workers in the area.

Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts (Big Horn Roofing, Laramie; UW Physical Plant; August 2015) -- Roof replacement operations will move to the southeast portion of the building, weather and schedule permitting. Staging will be next to the building, and two parking spaces will be required to access the staging area. Please be cautious of crews and equipment in the area.

22nd and Arrowhead Streets (Trident Electric, August 2015) -- Installation of crosswalk signs is substantially complete. Striping will be placed at a later date by the city of Laramie.

Student Health/Cheney Center (The Plumbing Company, Laramie; August 2015) -- Work is ongoing in various rooms throughout the building to replace and upgrade heating system components. Building contacts have been notified.

Knight Hall Student Financial Operations (JC Construction, Laramie; September 2015) -- A renovation of the cashiers area and the Office Suite 172 is underway. Moving crews will relocate the furniture, and temporary barriers will be established. Construction crews will enter and exit through the southwest Knight Hall corridor. Three parking spots have been reserved for contractor vehicles and a construction waste trailer. Traffic control barricades will be in place. Please be cautious of crews and equipment in the area.

Landmark Square Apartments (Highland Landscaping, Laramie; June 2016) -- Landscape improvements and a new sprinkler system are being installed for the entire Landmark Apartments property. Concrete removal and horizontal boring are complete. Sod removal and re-grading will continue. Traffic control barricades are in place. Please be cautious around excavation areas and equipment.

Spanish Walk Apartments Exterior Building Repairs (Shepard Construction, Rawlins; August 2015) -- Work on Unit A is nearing completion. Work will progress to units B and C, weather permitting. Staging area will be in the northeast corner of the complex. Lift equipment will be utilized to access the mansards at building perimeters. Use caution near crews and equipment.

Energy Innovation Center (UW Physical Plant; Custom Fabrication, Laramie; Trident Electric, Laramie; August 2015) -- A five-row solar array is being installed on the southeast roof of the building. This array will be used for solar power research and to supplement the electricity demand at the building. All mechanical installation work is complete. Commissioning and final connections are still in progress.

Merica Hall (Contracts West Roofing Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah; September 2015) -- Roof replacement operations are ongoing, weather permitting. Gutter and shingle replacement will be ongoing. Work may occur on weekends to make up for rain delays. Sidewalks at the building perimeter will be closed as the roofing progresses. A man lift will be used, requiring the circle drive south of the building to be reduced to one lane. Watch for crews and equipment, and avoid work areas.

Hoyt Hall (UW Physical Plant, Arcon Inc., October 2015) -- Repairs to the basement interior steel frame structure are expected to begin in early August. Please use caution around crews and equipment.

Student Health First Floor Reception (Marshall Contracting, Laramie; August 2015) -- Construction continues on the renovation of the first-floor reception area and two exam rooms. Please use caution around crews and equipment.

Wyoming Union (UW Physical Plant, August 2015) -- Upgrades around the east dining room are ongoing. Please use caution near crews and equipment. 

Classroom Upgrades Project (UW Physical Plant and Shepard Construction, Laramie; August 2015) -- Construction is underway in College of Education Rooms 6, 45 and 47; the College of Agriculture auditorium and Room 229; and the first floor of the Classroom Building. Please be aware of crews and equipment in the area of these classrooms.

History Building (Arcon Inc., Laramie; August 2015) -- Renovations to the first-floor restroom and Rooms 57, 60, 152, 155 and 156 are in progress. The first-floor restroom will be closed throughout the renovation. Use caution near crews and equipment in the basement and first-floor areas.

Centennial Complex (Marshall Contracting, August 2015) -- Renovations in the existing kitchen and dining areas on the first floor of the complex are complete.