Campus Construction Update for Jan. 17

These are among the construction activities scheduled Jan. 17-23 at the University of Wyoming:

STEM Facility Opening -- The Michael B. Enzi STEM Facility will be open for spring semester classes. Read more.

Cold Weather Preparation -- With the recent drop in temperatures, Physical Plant requests that all building occupants help ensure buildings and facilities are safe and secure. Please make sure all windows and doors are completely closed, and windows are latched. If you are unable to secure windows and/or doors, please contact the Physical Plant service desk at 766-6225.

The University of Wyoming Physical Plant has issued recommendations to ensure safety and security in all buildings during lengthy closures or anticipated periods of extremely cold weather. Read more.

Snow Removal -- Physical Plant crews will remove snow as needed throughout the season. Watch for snow-removal equipment; be careful and safe during snow events. Call the service desk at 766-6225 to report icy spots and problem areas.

Alarm Testing -- Annual fire alarm testing of campus facilities is scheduled to continue through Jan. 22. Intermittent alarms will sound throughout various building locations while devices are being tested. Schedules will be sent to building contacts for notification of test dates and times. Signs will be posted before testing.

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

Michael B. Enzi STEM Facility (General contractor AP Wyoming, Cheyenne; Lewis Street between 10th and 11th streets; scheduled completion October 2015) -- Please note that this project is being managed and administered by the State Construction Office. The intersections of 10th and 11th and Lewis are open for pedestrian and vehicle traffic. Vehicle traffic on Lewis between 10th and 11th will be limited to bus and service vehicles. Parking will not be allowed on Lewis. “No parking” signs and bollards will be in place this week. The sidewalks around Enzi and the south side of Lewis are open, and there is access to the Earth Sciences/EIC loading dock.

Final construction activity continues throughout the building with completion of punch lists and   operational testing of building systems. There may be man lifts on site at the perimeter of the building, allowing completion of the cornice, flashing and metal window surrounds. Departments occupying Enzi are continuing to move and prepare for January class start.

Hoyt Hall Renovation (General contractor Elk Ridge Builders & Design LLC, Laramie; anticipated substantial completion July 22, 2016) -- Required structural repairs to the lower level of Hoyt Hall have been completed. The general contractor for the renovation project (Elk Ridge) has mobilized on site, and work in Hoyt Hall has begun. Miscellaneous demolition by all construction trades is taking place. Please observe all temporary barricades, construction fencing, cautionary signs or other posted instructions around the building where work is taking place inside.

High Bay Research Facility (General contractor Haselden Wyoming Constructors, Laramie; 19th Street; scheduled completion spring 2017) -- Storm drain No. 1 that will extend from the site south to a detention pond at 19th and Willett will begin construction in the next couple of weeks. This work will continue through April. Light-gauge framing for the exterior walls of the building began on the west wing Dec. 18 and will continue through the end of January. Rigid insulation board, which will act as sheathing, the exterior portion of the thermal barrier and the air and water barrier are being installed on the west wing of the building. Plastic sheeting will be installed around the building in early January on both the north and west wings, allowing portions of the building’s interior to be heated. Insulation for the roofing on the west wing will begin in early January.

Half Acre Gymnasium Addition and Renovation (General contractor Groathouse Construction Inc., Cody) -- The Half Acre Recreation and Wellness Center is open. Completion of punch-list tasks and building technology subsystem continues. Pedestrian access to the new south building entrance from the southeast Wyoming Union parking lot is open. The west historic entrance has reopened to allow access from Prexy’s Pasture to new offices, training rooms and classroom. The refurbished gymnasium and expanded running track are open, along with the pool. Upper and lower day parking lots are open.

The UW Physical Plant has 288 projects in progress valued at more than $42.2 million. Following is a list of ongoing construction activities in areas of campus that may impact you:

Lewis Street (UW Physical Plant) -- Implementation of a new bus stop north of the Energy Innovation Center on Lewis Street, between 10th to 11th, will begin Monday, Jan. 25, for the Campus Commuter bus route. The area between 10th and11th streets will become a one-way bus route from west to east. No parking will be allowed on either side of the street, and only authorized vehicles will be allowed access to the corridor. The bus schedule can be found on the Transit and Parking Services website.

Bureau of Mines Building (Marshall Contracting, Laramie, The Plumbing Company, Laramie, Fremont Electric, Laramie; March 2016) -- A renovation to satisfy ADA compliance in the existing basement-level men’s restroom will begin Jan. 18. The restroom will be bisected to accommodate an ADA-accessible men’s and women’s restroom. Pre-construction selective demolition will be start next week. Please be cautious of work crews and equipment in the area.

Aven Nelson Building (UW Physical Plant) -- Painting of interior public spaces is underway. The stairwells will be the focus of this project, tying them in with the corridors that were painted in 2013-14. Painting is expected to continue for several weeks. The west elevator will be out of service Wednesday, Jan. 20, from 6 a.m.-4:30 p.m., to allow for repair of damaged walls on the third floor. Please be cautious of crews and equipment in the area.

General Storage Transformer Replacement (Trident Electric, Laramie; January 2016) -- Work is ongoing to replace a transformer on the south side of the General Storage Building. This work includes an area that has been dug into the ground near the transformer. A final shutdown is scheduled for Jan. 18. Use caution near crews and equipment and the hole that has been dug.

Visual Arts Building (UW Physical Plant; January 2016) -- Air pressure testing will be conducted Jan. 19. Exhaust fans will be turned off for several hours when testing is ongoing. Process exhaust will be unavailable during the testing.

Fieldhouse North (JC Construction, Laramie; April 2016) -- Construction is ongoing in the volleyball locker room. Staging will be on the east side of the building. Please be aware, and use caution around crews and equipment, particularly in the central stairwell.

White Hall/Washakie Center (UW Physical Plant; January 2016) -- The lower-level tunnel door from Washakie to White Hall will be replaced during early January. This entrance will not be accessible during this time. Please make arrangements for alternate pathways, and use caution near crews and equipment. 

Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts (UW Physical Plant; January 2016) -- Practice room doors on the west side of the building will be replaced with new units and sound seals. The work is anticipated to take place Jan. 4-22. Individual rooms may not be accessible while a door installation is taking place. Please use caution near crews and equipment. 

Geology Building (Marshall Contracting, Laramie; February 2016) -- Construction continues on the renovations to Room 11. The staging areas are located on the south and west sides of the building. Please be aware, and use caution, around crews and equipment, particularly in the west stairwell.

Animal Science Building and the Centennial Complex (Stonehouse Inc., Laramie; January 2016) -- The new electric vault to the north of the sidewalk that bisects the Animal Science Building and the Centennial Complex has been poured, waterproofed and backfilled. Traffic-control barricades and fencing will remain in place until the lid is delivered and installed in late January.

Ross Hall (UW Physical Plant; January 2016) -- A split-unit air-conditioning system will be installed in Room 247. Crews will be working in Rooms 247, 347, 447 and on the roof. Please use caution around equipment moving in and out of the area.

Health Sciences Complex (Simpson Electric Co., Cheyenne; January 2016) -- Control upgrades in the Health Sciences wing of the building are substantially complete. Work is complete in the Pharmacy Building penthouse unit. Work to access and commission fire dampers in the ductwork will be ongoing. Please be cautious of ladders and workers in the corridors and rooms. 

Biological Sciences Building (Laramie Heating and Sheet Metal; January 2016) -- 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.

Coe Library (Laramie Heating & Sheet Metal, Laramie; January 2016) -- 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. Tile work and patching follow-up remain. Use caution in work areas and around equipment.