Campus Construction Update for May 11

These are among the construction activities scheduled May 11-17 at the University of Wyoming:

Commencement Shuttles -- With parking spaces expected to be limited near some commencement ceremony venues, UW will offer free shuttle service beginning one hour before scheduled events May 9-10. Read More

East Campus Electrical Shutdown -- An electrical shutdown for switch cleaning is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, May 17-18, from 6:30 a.m-5:30 p.m. The following locations will be affected: Saturday:  Information Technology, AS/MB, RMMC, Centennial Complex, WTBC, Visual Arts and Beta House. Sunday: Downey, White, McIntyre, Orr, Hill and Crane residence halls; Washakie Center, Crane/Hill Cafeteria, Fraternity Row (Beta House to be shut down Saturday), Honors House, Centrex, Rochelle Athletic Center, Indoor Practice Facility, Memorial Fieldhouse and War Memorial Stadium. Building contacts have been notified.

Facilities Named -- The UW Board of Trustees voted to name the new indoor golf practice facility at UW’s Jacoby Golf Course the UW Ron R. Richardson Golf Performance Center, in honor of the recently deceased donor and supporter of UW athletics. Additionally, trustees voted to rename the UW Planetarium the UW Harry C. Vaughan Planetarium, honoring the late Iowa State University professor who established the Windy Ridge Foundation, which provided an $875,000 gift to the UW Foundation to modernize and transform the planetarium.

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

Hollows Sidewalk ADA Improvements (General contractor Sweckard Excavation LLC, Laramie; between Ivinson Street and Merica Hall/Old Main) -- The contractor has begun staging materials on site. Construction fencing around materials staging area (north of Ivinson Street) and first phase of sidewalk replacement in front of Merica Hall will take place starting May 12. The straight north-south section of sidewalk from Ivinson Street to Merica Hall, the northwest diagonal sidewalk from Ivinson Street to Old Main and the east-west section of sidewalk (and  concrete stairs) south of Merica Hall will be closed for construction. Pedestrians are advised to take alternate routes to both Merica Hall and Old Main from the Ivinson Street parking lot beginning May 12. Work on this project is expected to be substantially complete by July 18.

McIntyre Hall (General contractor Sampson Construction, Cheyenne) – Window replacement will begin May 12 on the 12th floor. Barricades will be placed around the ground level perimeter. Use caution around the area. Apartment remodel and valve replacement also begins May12. The contractor staging is on the south side of Orr Hall.

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 is underway and will proceed in areas as foundation work is completed. Placement of underground utilities along with foundation and shear walls at elevator/stairs including wall forms, steel reinforcing and concrete will continue into June. Steel erection is scheduled to start the second week in May. The crane will be on site and assembly will be underway. Structural steel has started arriving and will continue to be received on site through mid-July at the rate of several trucks at a minimum per week. Concrete, reinforcing steel and fill material delivery will continue based on requirements to sustain the work in progress. Watch for utility work at 11th Street with related street closure; a firm date is not available. Watch for construction traffic on Lewis, 10th, 11th and Bradley streets. For their 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, with resulting heavy truck traffic. Job trailers, storage containers, materials and equipment are on site.

The fenced construction area and fenced storage yards along Lewis are secured construction areas. The storage yard north of Lewis between 11th and 12th, and the storage yard south of Lewis between 12th and 13th, are fenced and slowly filling with materials and office trailers. Watch for materials being moved from storage to the job site. The width of 10th, 11th and Bradley streets around the Enzi STEM Facility site has been reduced to two-way traffic. Vehicles cannot park along 10th and 11th streets. Parking remains on the north of Bradley Street. Utilities will be done in conjunction with planned north campus utility work. For a webcam view, visit http://oxblue.com/open/APWyoming/STEMProject.

Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts (General contractor Sampson Construction, Cheyenne; Fine Arts Building renovation and expansion; scheduled completion December 2014) -- Additional project information is available here. The parking lot on the east side of the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts is closed and is being used for construction staging. It will be converted into a green area following construction. 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.

Part of the west sidewalk along the north end is closed to pedestrians for the next two months during the exaction and installation of an electrical equipment screened wall. Footing excavation, rebar placement and pouring continue, along with foundation walls. Grade beam exaction and forming is complete. Backfill on the north and east is complete and continuing on the south side. Steel erection is ongoing on the east side and middle area of addition. Exterior framing and sheathing installation are continuing on the north. Interior framing, rough-in plumbing, duct work and electrical is ongoing. Concrete slabs on grade and on metal decking are ongoing on the north side and middle of the building. Work in the existing building areas is scheduled to begin May 12 on the second floor and May 19 on remaining floors. Building heating will be down starting May 19 through mid-September. 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) -- Interior work is complete. Startup and commissioning work will take place May 12 and 13 for evaporative cooling in the lab areas.

ESCo Project (Long Energy Solutions, Casper) -- Wyoming State Vet Lab, air distribution and control work is nearly complete. Programming controllers will be ongoing. Engineering air distribution and control work will begin May 12. Non-lab areas will start on the sixth floor and work down throughout the summer. The lab areas will be a mix of floors throughout the summer starting May 12. The heating system in the Engineering building will be down through August. AG-C new VAV installations for non-lab areas will begin May 12 starting on the sixth floor and moving down through mid-August.

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 are 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. Temporary staging/construction areas also may be established, with limited notice, near the west entrance and along the pedestrian pathways north of Half Acre Gymnasium between Prexy’s Pasture and Willett Drive as required by the ongoing construction-related tasks. 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. Please observe all posted traffic control, construction signs and temporary flagging.

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 commenced, including exterior framing, envelope thermal and moisture protection systems, stone and brick masonry, openings and roofing. Specialty building equipment, including climbing wall/pinnacle components, have been delivered and are in process of being installed, while other equipment, including penthouse HVAC units, are scheduled for delivery late this month.

Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center (General contractor Haselden Constructors, Casper; 22nd and Grand; scheduled completion fall 2014) -- The mullion caps and exterior caulking for the large curtain wall windows are being installed on the west elevation of the building. The substrate for the fiber cement panels and metal panels is complete, allowing for sample panels to be installed before installation of the two systems. Rough grading and excavation for the site wall foundations is underway, and landscaping boulders are being installed. Drywall is being installed in Legacy Hall and War Memorial Concourse. Suspended ceiling systems are beginning installation in War Memorial Concourse. Wood millwork and trim are being installed in the Ballroom and the Presidential Suite. Floor tile installation is in process on the second and third floors. Lights and diffusers are being installed on the third floor of the south wing. The suspended ceiling system is being installed on the third floor. Additional project information is available here. Click here for updated images taken by the construction cam.

Arena-Auditorium Renovations (General contractor Haselden Constructors, Casper; Willett Drive; scheduled completion fall 2014) -- The Arena-Auditorium renovations started March 10. Due to the renovations taking place, the AA will be closed to the public for all recreational purposes. The project will be complete by Oct. 1. The bus stop located at the Willett West entry to the arena has been relocated to the east side of the arena between the arena and the Rochelle Athletic Center. The Athletics ticketing office has been relocated to the east side of the arena at the Stadium Entrance. The project involves replacing the existing competition floor. The floor will be raised 18 inches and rotated to accommodate practice courts on either side of the competition floor. To accomplish this, the majority of the existing retaining walls will be removed and relocated farther back from the competition floor. The existing lower bowl seating will be replaced with wider, cushioned seating, including integrated cup holders. Telescopic seating will be installed from row 12 to the competition floor. This seating will be retracted to expose the new practice floor during non-event practice times. Two new video boards, positioned on each end of the arena, will replace the existing video board. Video boards also will be installed on the front of the scorer’s tables on either side of the competition floor. New LED competition court lighting will be installed to replace the existing system. The existing audio system also will be replaced. On the sub-concourse level, the existing locker rooms, sports medicine room and conditioning room will be renovated. A new video production room will be created in the North Fieldhouse from which both stadium and arena events will be broadcast.

Golf Practice Facility (General contractor Spiegelberg Lumber and Building Co., Laramie) -- Construction activities for the project continue in the vicinity of the Jacoby Golf Course clubhouse. Substantial completion of the building proper was achieved March 28. However, installation of specialty putting turf, furnishings and equipment continues. Site work has resumed as weather and ground conditions have allowed, aiming toward a mid-May completion of site repairs and improvements. Please observe all posted traffic control and construction signage.

Agriculture Buildings A, B and D Deconstruction (General contractor Grant Mackay Demolition Co., Bountiful, Utah; Lewis Street, between 12th and 13th streets) -- Deconstruction is complete. ADA parking spaces are open in the alley, along with “U” and short term state/federal spaces. The fire department access loop has been relocated along the west of the Education Building. Access to the alley along the north side of the Agriculture Building will remain open.

Education Annex -- Literacy Research Center and Clinic (General contractor Shepard Construction Inc., Rawlins) -- The facility was dedicated March 27. 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.

The UW Physical Plant has 345 projects in progress valued at more than $21.3 million. Following is a list of ongoing construction activities in areas of campus that may impact you.

Campus -- Crews will be activating sprinkler irrigation systems for the season. Overspray onto sidewalks and driveways could create icy or slippery areas. Please use caution.

Agriculture Building (General contractor GW Mechanical, Mills; scheduled completion August 2014) -- Work will begin to replace 132 existing VAV boxes to supplement the controls and air management upgrades that were completed last fall. This work will take place primarily in the corridors, smaller classrooms, offices and common areas. Please be aware of ladder, tools and equipment in the building.

Spanish Walk Apartments -- Equipment operators will do work and landscaping around buildings “A” and “D.” Please be aware of heavy equipment in the area.

Service Building (General contractor Custom Fabrication, Laramie; scheduled completion June 2014) -- Work to install a guard rail on the mezzanine in Stores will begin. Please use caution in this area.

UW Planetarium (General contractor Arcon, Inc., Laramie; scheduled completion September 2014) – Renovations have begun to bring the existing ramp into ADA compliance. Infrastructure for a new digitally integrated projection system, new graphics/complete façade, and all new seating is set to be installed during the summer. Please be aware of crews and equipment in the area.

Grand Avenue Reconstruction (Wyoming Department of Transportation) -- Grand Avenue is still closed from 15th-21st streets. Vehicle traffic is open on 17th Street, heading south, only. The 17th Street parking lot is closed to resident vehicle parking, as this is the delivery truck route while the 19th 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 dorm 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 will reroute 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. Read more about the Grand Avenue construction project in the Laramie Boomerang.

Engineering Building -- Air management and digital control upgrades to improve building efficiency are ongoing. There will be minimal contractor activity until the week of May 12, when 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.

SAREC Research Farm, Lingle (General contractor Hi Plains Construction, Torrington; scheduled completion June 2014) -- Construction to replace a machine storage building that collapsed in 2013 is ongoing. Please use caution near construction area and around equipment.

Energy Innovation Center -- Work has begun on Phase 1 to renovate a laboratory ventilation system. Please be aware of crews in the area.

Wyoming Hall (Big Horn Roofing, Laramie; scheduled completion May 2014) -- Replacement of all upper-level roof membranes is complete, with the exception of minor punch list items. Primary staging has been removed. Energy efficiency will improve with the addition of tapered insulation crickets to direct drainage to roof drains. Please use caution near staging area and equipment.

General Storage Addition (General contractor Arcon Inc., Laramie; scheduled completion April 2014) -- Interior work will continue this week. The south side of the existing building is accessible from the west driveway. Shipping and Receiving operations will continue throughout construction. 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.

Centennial Complex (American Heritage Center and Art Museum, general contractors D&D Monarch Sheet Metal, Commerce City, Colo., and Big Horn Roofing, Laramie; scheduled completion May 2014) -- Roof replacements are complete. Minor punch list items will be ongoing including reclamation to the west side berm and grass areas used for project staging/access. This project included several improvements to the building’s energy efficiency: a continuous air/vapor barrier, increased roof insulation, and the new skylights with insulating glass on the cone portion of the building.

University Store Remodeling (General contractor Arcon Inc., Laramie; scheduled completion April 2014) – Project is complete. The store is open for business for normal operating hours (Mondays through Fridays, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.). The University Store will host a re-opening at a later date. The University Store thanks everyone for their patience and patronage during the remodeling process.