Campus Construction Update for Sept. 14

There are among the construction activities scheduled Sept. 14-20 at the University of Wyoming.

Berlin Wall on Prexy’s -- A mock Berlin Wall will be installed on Prexy’s Pasture near Ross Hall and torn down with sledgehammers at noon Thursday, Sept. 18. Students and visitors will be able to spray paint graffiti on the wall during the week. Read more.

Traffic Alert -- With the start of a new semester, the UW Police Department reminds everyone that the speed limit around the campus perimeter is 20 mph.

Bus Stop -- The bus stop on Lewis Street at 14th Street will be open Monday, Sept. 15, for UW and Albany County School District busing.

Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts (General contractor Sampson Construction, Cheyenne; Fine Arts Building renovation and expansion; scheduled completion December 2014) -- 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 parking lot south of the building is partially closed through late September for new sanitary and storm sewer pipe installation. The building heating system is scheduled to be up and running Monday, Sept. 15. Part of the west sidewalk along the north end is partially closed to pedestrians through mid-September for landscaping. Exterior framing, sheathing and vapor barrier installation continue on the south and the middle addition. Masonry work is ongoing on the north and south sides. Roofing is 95 percent complete. Interior framing/drywall, rough-in plumbing, duct work and electrical work are ongoing. Steel erection is complete on the east side of the addition and is nearly complete on the northwest addition. Work in the existing building is complete, with display boards, curtains and acoustic wall panels installed during unoccupied times. 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.

ESCo Project (Long Energy Solutions, Casper) -- Engineering air distribution and control work continues. Non-lab and lab area work on all floors are 95 percent complete in occupied areas. Exhaust upgrades will continue through September in the penthouse. The heating system in the Engineering Building is now back on. New VAV installations for non-lab areas in the College of Agriculture Building are complete.

McIntyre Hall (General contractor Sampson Construction, Cheyenne) -- Window replacement is complete for this summer 8-12th floors, with punch-list work nearly complete. Apartment remodeling punch list work is nearly complete. Remaining window replacement will begin in May 2015.

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.

There will be utility work in 11th Street along with steam line and storm water work in the intersection of 11th and Lewis streets in the near future. This work is tied to the progress of the steam line extension along Lewis. Schedule of this work will be noted as it is finalized. This will restrict access across Lewis at 12th and 11th streets. Tunnel and vault construction will continue in Lewis through mid-November. Parking west of the site on Lewis will be impacted, along with access to the EIC/ES loading dock.

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.

You can visit the webcam here.

Arena-Auditorium Renovations (General contractor Haselden Constructors, Casper; Willett Drive; scheduled completion fall 2014) -- Phase 1 of the Arena-Auditorium Renovation is approximately 80 percent complete. The ADA seating platforms are being constructed within the arena at the concourse level. The new fixed seating extending from the concourse level down to the retaining wall/ railing has been installed and covered with plastic. The retractable seating that will form the bottom half of the lower bowl is now being installed. The north portion of the seating and the student section located on the west side of the competition floor are the first portions that will be built. Currently the student section is approximately 75 percent complete and the north section is 50 percent complete. In the lower/ locker room level, painting is ongoing and is approximately 75 percent complete. The built-in wood lockers have been installed in both the women’s and men’s locker rooms. Trim work and remaining case work is wrapping up in all rooms on the lower level. The LED competition floor and practice floor lighting has begun installation. Plumbing, light fixtures and heating/ cooling diffusers are being installed. Tile installation in the lower level/locker rooms is underway and approximately 95 percent complete.

Biological Sciences Building Mechanical Modifications (General Contractor Independent Heating and Sheet Metal, Laramie) -- Fifth-floor ceiling grid, ceiling panels, duct modifications and lighting are complete; air balancing and sound testing also are complete. Two weeks of integration testing on the fifth floor has begun. Final roof installation will be ongoing for the next two weeks.

Half Acre Gymnasium Addition and Renovation (General contractor Groathouse Construction Inc., Cody; scheduled completion of Phase 1, east reconstruction/addition, Jan. 20, 2015; 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. 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. Interior construction is continuing, with building systems rough-in, masonry, wall and ceiling systems framing, and fireproofing nearing completion in advance of finish construction. Exterior building enclosure work continues, including exterior framing, envelope thermal and moisture protection systems, stone and brick masonry, openings and roofing toward achieving final building “dry-in.” Specialty building equipment, including climbing wall/pinnacle components and penthouse HVAC units, has been delivered and installed in advance of field finishing and startup.

The sub-phase of the Phase 1 reconstruction/addition to build out the northwest corner adjacent to the retained existing stone walls continues. Adjacent pedestrian pathways north of Half Acre Gymnasium between Prexy’s Pasture and Willett Drive remain open; however, the continuing construction in this vicinity will result in increased congestion. Temporary traffic controls and signs will be established as needed by specific site activities.

Site improvement work on Willett Drive west of 15th Street and south of Wyoming Hall has progressed to allow Willett Drive to be reopened to normal traffic. Site improvement work along the south perimeter of Willett Drive will continue. Site improvement work will impact portions of the parking lot east of the Wyoming Union through Sept. 30. 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.

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.

Visual Arts Center (22nd Street and Willett Drive near the Centennial Complex) - Installation of stone should start early in the week. This work may be further delayed due to late rains. Depending on weather, the work will be complete by the end of September. The contractor is using a portion of the northwest parking area as a staging area.

Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center (General contractor Haselden Constructors, Casper; 22nd and Grand; scheduled completion fall 2014) -- The Gateway Center is approximately 90 percent complete. Metal trim enclosures and caulking are taking place on the exterior of the building. Landscaping and irrigation is being installed around the building. Sidewalks and exterior stairways are being poured on the south side of the building. The fiber cement panels on large projection from the southeast corner of the building facing Grand Avenue are being installed. This feature will hold a large Steamboat logo welcoming visitors to the UW campus. Flooring throughout the building is now complete. The stair treads for the stairways in the main lobby and the south stair are being installed. Installation of the environmental graphics and related casework have started in the Memorial Concourse. Acoustic ceiling tile work is being finished on the second floor and is approximately 90 percent complete on the third floor. Additional project information is available here. Click here for updated images taken by the construction cam.

Berry Biodiversity Conservation Center – Spruce Court (General contractor Arcon Inc., Laramie) -- Ramp forming is this week. Deck sub frame and ramp concrete placement are scheduled to follow next week. Service vehicles entering campus from the gate at 9½ Lewis St. should use caution. The Berry Center Green Roof will be closed for the duration of this project (fall 2014). Earthwork and existing irrigation line removal will be this week. Remaining earthwork and new irrigation installation will follow.

The UW Physical Plant has 342 projects in progress valued at more than $32.5 million. Following is a list of ongoing construction activities in areas of campus that may impact you:

Shipping and Receiving/General Storage (General Contractor Arcon, Inc., Laramie, scheduled completion September 2014) -- The main entrance off of 15th Street, northwest of General Storage, is closed to install storm water infrastructure improvements. Delivery trucks will need to use 19th Street for access. Additionally, the parking area north of the General Storage addition is closed to allow improvements to existing “A” parking. View a map of the detour here.

15th and Lewis Street Closure (General contractor Mechanical Systems Inc., Cheyenne) -- Lewis Street is open from 14th Street to 15th Street. Lewis Street will remain closed from 10th Street to 14th Street through Oct. 31. Access to Wyoming/McWhinnie Hall parking lots and Willett Drive is open for normal traffic. Parking on Willett will remain closed. Excavation work also will be ongoing west of 19th Street, and the sidewalk in the area will remain closed. Be aware of barricades and heavy equipment in these areas.

Corbett Building (UW Physical Plant) -- West entrance area, a concrete pad will be installed over the next few weeks for bicycle racks.

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

Cowboy Baseball Field (General contractor Highland Landscaping & Contracting, Laramie; scheduled completion October 2014) -- Infield improvement work continues. The project scope includes removing grass, topsoil and infield dirt; installing drainage and irrigation; and replacing grass and infield dirt. Please use caution near staging area, and watch for heavy equipment entering and exiting the site.

Health Sciences Building (UW Physical Plant) -- Work has begun to renovate Room 483 to create two additional rooms with the space. Work to remove lab benches and flooring is ongoing. Please use caution near work areas.

Biological Sciences Building (Big Horn Roofing, Laramie) -- Installation of the roof around HVAC equipment began Aug. 4. Staging is on the southeast side of the building near the disposal chute. Use caution near the staging area during debris removal.

Rochelle Athletics Center (Arcon Inc., Laramie, scheduled completion this month) -- Work continues in the southeast end of the weight room to add a nutrition center and office area. Staging will be located on the exterior of the building’s west side. Proceed with caution in and around this area.

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 (UW Physical Plant) -- 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 nearly complete to ADA parking enhancements and landscaping improvements north of McWhinnie Hall. Landscaping and punch-list items will continue through September. Please be aware of crews and equipment in the area as the project nears completion.

McWhinnie Hall (UW Physical Plant) -- Foot traffic to and from main campus and UniWyo will be temporary interrupted on the west side of McWhinnie Hall due to concrete repairs to steam tunnel and sidewalk area,. Please use detour around east side of the building.

UW Planetarium (General contractor Arcon Inc., Laramie; scheduled completion September 2014) -- The planetarium dome replacement is complete. Aesthetic improvements will continue through the end of September in the planetarium and adjacent elevator lobby. Please use caution near crews and materials 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 is currently being refilled. Functional building heat will be active again soon. Be aware of ladders and equipment in the corridors.

Grand Avenue (UW Physical Plant) -- Landscaping, lighting and signage work will continue through September as remediation from the street expansion project is completed.

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.

Residence Halls  (A&R Metal and Voltech Electric, both of Laramie) -- Work to install raceways, grounding, air conditioning and power for a new satellite TV provider, “Campus Televideo,” is complete. Additional runs into the lobbies of McIntyre and Downey halls are ongoing and are complete in Orr and White halls. Work is scheduled to be complete by Sept. 12. Use caution around work areas.

Rochelle Athletics Center (Marshall Contracting, Laramie, Phase II scheduled completion December 2014) -- Phase I is complete. Work will begin for Phase II. Construction activities will be scaled back for the remainder of September.