Campus Construction Update for Sept. 20

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

Day Lot Parking, located at the corner of Willet and 15th Streets (UW Physical Plant, September 2015) -- The upper, or north, section of the Day Lot is open. Temporary pay-by-the-hour parking spaces are available for a fee of $1/hour via a kiosk station. The lot provides 28 regular parking spaces and four ADA accessible parking spaces. Please be aware of the traffic flow and drive slowly. Patrons will be entering and exiting in the same location. The lower, or south, portion is scheduled to reopen in November. The Day Lot has been closed for the Half-Acre renovation.

ASUW Plaza Dedication -- Dedication of a new student memorial plaza at the east end of Prexy’s Pasture is scheduled to take place Friday, Sept. 25, at 11 a.m. Read more.

Grand Opening for Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts -- UW President Dick McGinity will host a grand opening event Thursday, Oct. 8, for the expanded and renovated Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts. An open house will begin at 5 p.m., with a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony at 6 p.m. Tours and refreshments will be offered.

Traffic Alert -- With the start of a new semester, the UW Police Department reminds everyone that the speed limit around the perimeter of campus is 20 miles per hour. It will be strictly enforced.

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) -- Over lot/rough grading activities are ongoing. The building’s shear walls have been poured up to the second floor level. Form work erection began the week of Aug. 31, to extend these shear walls to the roof level. Trenching for the utilities from 19th Street to the west face of the building took place the week of Aug. 14. A water line extension northeast of the building began the week of Sept. 14. The underground utility work within the building will begin the week of Sept. 21. Work continues for a storm line that is being installed on the west side of the Animal Science Building. Waterproofing and backfilling of the building foundation is currently in progress.

Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts (General contractor Sampson Construction, Cheyenne; Fine Arts Building renovation and expansion; scheduled completion August 2015) -- Substantial completion has been issued, and the new addition is occupied. Punch-list work is ongoing. AV (audio visual) commissioning is complete, with punch lists issued.

The parking lot on the east side of the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts is now open. Building visitors can enter through the main east entrance.

The new box office located in the central lobby is open, with 15-minute parking in the east parking lot.

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. 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. Renovation is underway throughout Phase 2, including mechanical and electrical rough-in and interior layout and framing. Work on the old gym continues with paint, lighting upgrades and preparation for refinishing the existing gym floor. 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 remain open; however, continuing construction 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 Oct. 1) -- This project is currently 93 percent complete. Remaining work this fall includes sandblasting of the ASUW medallion inset design in the center sidewalk section, and rock mulch installation along the front edge of the vertical stone planting walls. Once these tasks are completed, the contractor will remove the construction fencing, clean up and begin moving off the site. This project is scheduled to be complete (with the exception of alpine planting) by Oct. 1. The alpine planting will take place during spring 2016 due to growing season requirements. Please observe all temporary barricades, cautionary signs or other posted instructions in areas where work is taking place.

Hoyt Hall Renovation (General contractor TBD, anticipated completion fall/winter 2016) -- The bid date for this project has been rescheduled for Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015. A second pre-bid meeting with interested contractors is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 24, to clarify changes in project scope and schedule requirements. Required structural repairs to the lower level of Hoyt Hall are being completed under a separate contract managed by the UW Physical Plant. The renovation work in the building is currently anticipated to begin in early January 2016, after all the structural repairs have been completed. Please observe all temporary barricades, cautionary signs or other posted instructions in areas of the building where work is taking place.

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. The construction office is relocated to the west on 10th Street, with access on the north from Bradley Street.

Landscaping and site work is proceeding around the building. Planting of trees and shrubs is underway, with sod this week. This will cause intermittent disruptions to traffic on all surrounding streets.

Construction activity continues throughout the building. Ceiling grid work is beginning in corridors and public areas. Laboratory casework is complete throughout. Painting, floor tile and installation of acoustic wall paneling continue in the atrium. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing 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. Metal panels and trim on cornice soffits are underway. Curtain wall and glass installation is nearing completion on the south. Work on the atrium interior walls and detail continues in conjunction with the completion of mechanical and electrical systems.

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 318 projects in progress valued at more than $46.9 million. Following is a list of ongoing construction activities in areas of campus that may impact you:

Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts (Trident Electric; Laramie; October 2015) -- New lobby lights are being installed. The work requires a containment area to be built in the lobby around the area of the lights. Occupants will still be able to walk through the lobby but will be detoured around the perimeter of the containment area. Please use caution around crews and equipment.

Cheyenne Family Practice (Big Horn Roofing, Laramie; November 2015) -- Material will be delivered for roof recovering on Sept. 21, weather and schedule permitting. Please use caution around equipment staged on the north side of the building.

Arts and Sciences (Stonehouse Inc.; Laramie; October 2015) -- A concrete skirt with spillways and primary roof drain modifications will be installed on the northeast and north sides of the building. Positive stormwater corrections will be made via regrading and new sod, to prevent continued water intrusion into the building. Traffic control barricades will be in place. Please be cautious around equipment in the area. 

Arts and Sciences (Shepard Construction; Rawlins; October 2015) -- A ramp is being constructed for access to the north side of the A&S auditorium stage. Part of Room 118 will be converted for this space. Temporary barriers will be constructed for dust. Please use caution around crews and equipment.

Visual Arts Building (GE Johnson; September 2015) -- Work will be ongoing to replace exterior lighting and sealing the exterior envelope. Use caution near crews and equipment.

Biological Sciences (Laramie Heating and Sheet Metal; September 2015) -- A supplemental/emergency cooling system is scheduled to be installed in Room 427A. Work will be ongoing in this area and in the mechanical chase in the center of the building. Please use caution near crews and equipment.

Jacoby Golf Course (Christensen Irrigation Co., Costa Mesa, Calif.; May 2016) -- The contractor is laying out pipe in areas of the course. Trenching and installation of pipe in the rough areas is ongoing on fairways four and five. Piping and material are stockpiled in the staging area west of the clubhouse and around the course. Improvements are expected to decrease water consumption, reduce system maintenance and enhance aesthetics. Please use caution near crews and equipment in this area.

College of Agriculture Building -- Crews are working to repair a broken water main located between the Agriculture Building 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; September 2015) -- Work is ongoing 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 affected. Use caution in work areas and around equipment.

Biological Sciences Building (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. A lift will be staged on the sidewalk east of the building throughout the project. Please be cautious around the lift and workers in the area.

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. Irrigation main, lateral line installation and pump station infrastructure are in progress. Traffic control barricades are in place. Please be cautious around excavation areas and equipment.

Spanish Walk Apartments Exterior Building Repairs (Shepard Construction, Rawlins; November 2015) -- Work on units A and B is complete. Work will be ongoing on units C and D, weather permitting. The staging area will be in the northeast corner of the complex. Lift equipment will be used 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; September 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.

Hoyt Hall (UW Physical Plant, Arcon Inc.; October 2015) -- Repairs to the basement interior steel frame structure are expected to begin in early September. Staging will be north of the building and south of Student Health. Please use caution around crews and equipment.

Wyoming Union (UW Physical Plant; September 2015) -- Upgrades around the east dining room are scheduled to be complete Sept. 18. Please use caution near crews and equipment as work nears completion. 

Corbett Pool Closure -- Core drilling on the pool deck for new starting blocks is complete.

Engineering (Laramie Heating and Sheet Metal, Laramie; September 2015) -- Crane work in this area is complete. 

Sigma Phi Epsilon (Marshall Contracting, Laramie; September 2015) -- Repairs, replacement and repainting of the gutters, downspouts and fascia are complete.