Campus Construction Update for March 1

These are among the construction activities scheduled March 1-7 at the University of Wyoming:

Campus Notification: ITC -- The Information Technology Building, computer lab and data center will be closed and off-line for electrical upgrades from the night of Saturday, March 14, through the morning of Sunday, March 15. Email and Internet services will be available for campus. IT will send communications to stakeholders directly.

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

Michael B. Enzi STEM Facility (General contractor AP Wyoming, Cheyenne; Lewis Street between 10th and 11th streets; scheduled completion May 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. Street repair work will be limited to gravel fill until spring.

Construction activity continues throughout the building, with a temporary enclosure and permanent storefront and curtain wall providing weather enclosure. Work in progress varies from floor to floor. Drywall finishing is proceeding ahead of painting on the first floor in preparation for the start of ceiling installation. Wall framing and drywall continue on the second floor. On the third floor, wall framing is nearly complete and drywall is underway. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing rough-ins are progressing on the third floor ahead of the drywall. Installation of stairs and elevators continues. Minor steel trim-out, including the installation of stairs and installation of the cornice at the top of the exterior walls, is progressing. There will continue to be numerous man lifts around the perimeter of the building, allowing work to progress on the exterior building skin ahead of the masonry installation. The mason will continue to work on several areas of the exterior as the sheathing (yellow board) and air barrier (gray rolled-on membrane) are completed. The mason is working in tented and heated scaffolding as needed to prevent freezing of the fresh mortar.

Final exterior wall system shell enclosure is proceeding on all sides, with sheathing and masonry work. Roof membrane work is complete. Flashing and trim-out of the roof is proceeding on the penthouse and lower roofs as weather permits. Installation of storefront and glass is proceeding on the west and east as weather and adjacent work permit. Curtain wall and glass installation is underway on the north and south as adjacent work and weather permit. Materials are stocked on site, with installation proceeding as glass is fabricated. A temporary enclosure is complete around the building to facilitate interior work as the exterior wall enclosure is being constructed. Construction of interior wall framing is continuing on second and third floors in conjunction with the rough-in of mechanical and electrical systems. Work on the atrium interior detail continues.

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.

Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts (General contractor Sampson Construction, Cheyenne; Fine Arts Building renovation and expansion; scheduled completion May 2015) -- 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 Performing Arts Center will be partially closed on the east for storm sewer pipe installation.

Masonry stone work and exterior glazing are complete. Interior painting, flooring/wall tile, ceilings, electrical, plumbing and mechanical trim-out installations are ongoing in the majority of the north side addition. Interior framing/drywall/taping, painting, rough-in plumbing, duct work and electrical work are ongoing in the majority of the south side addition. High work in the Thrust Theater is complete, with lower framing beginning. Recital hall, choral and band area drywall work is ongoing. The box office has moved to a temporary location just southeast of the old box office location. The Department of Theatre and Dance northwest office addition is complete, and offices are now occupied. Punch lists are nearly complete. Work in the existing building is ongoing, with display boards, curtains, acoustic wall panels, AV and air balancing ongoing. Commissioning of existing building AV systems is complete, with deficiency reports to follow. 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) -- Roof installation is nearly complete, with final existing roof insulation repairs occurring on different days through the next three weeks. Staging at ground level will be on the southeast corner of the building. Exercise caution around the equipment and activities in the staging area.

Berry Biodiversity Conservation Center (Designer, Ozark Museum of Natural History, Cedar Creek, Mo.) -- Installation of museum-style exhibits throughout the building is underway and is tentatively scheduled for completion by the end of February. Some noise and dust in various locations may occur.

Half Acre Gymnasium Addition and Renovation (General contractor Groathouse Construction Inc., Cody; scheduled completion of Phase 1, east reconstruction/addition, March 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.

Phase 1 east reconstruction/addition construction continues to proceed toward completion. Interior activities remain focused on finishes in all areas. Drywall finishing, specialty plaster, priming and painting, ceiling systems, tile and specialty flooring, casework and building specialties, and building systems work is progressing on all floors. Exterior building finish work -- primarily stone and brick masonry -- is nearing completion on the north elevation. Specialty building equipment, including climbing wall/pinnacle components, is in process toward final installation. Building HVAC and specialty systems are in varying stages of start-up, testing and verification.

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. Willett Drive, west of 15th Street and south of Wyoming Hall, has 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 early March. 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.

The UW Physical Plant has 307 projects in progress valued at more than $42.9 million. Following is a list of ongoing construction activities in areas of campus that may impact you:

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, and call the Service Desk, 766-6225, to report ice spots and problem areas.

Lewis Street (MSI, Cheyenne, July 2015) -- Pipe installation in the Green Hill Cemetery will resume next week. Work in vaults along Lewis Street from 11th to 15th streets also will continue. Please be aware of temporary barricades, crews and vehicles in the area.

Buildings Affected by the Winter Closure Freeze -- (Physical Plant is undergoing a thorough review of the cause of each freeze-up, including the use of outside consultants, to help address future issues.)

-- Coe Library (History Addition) -- Reconstruction of the sixth-floor office is underway. Abatement and restoration work will continue in the north stairwell through February. Please use another stairwell for access. 

-- Jacoby Club House -- Physical Plant will complete restoration by March 1.

-- White Hall (Arcon Inc., Laramie) -- Insulated hatch replacement is ongoing. Relocation of the soffit louver is being evaluated by an outside structural engineer. Please use caution around work areas.

-- Downey Hall (Arcon Inc., Laramie) -- Replacement of insulation on the east end soffit is complete. Three additional insulated replacement soffit hatches have been ordered for the north side and will be installed after arrival. Please use caution around work areas.

Agriculture (UW Physical Plant, March 2015) -- The northwest stairway is being painted.  Please use caution around the work area.

Health Sciences/Pharmacy (UW Physical Plant, March 2015) -- Work will continue through March to renovate Room 483 to create three additional rooms. Installation of flooring will begin March 3. Electrical, mechanical and plumbing work will be ongoing. Please use caution near work areas.

Geology/Earth Sciences (UW Information Technology; Trident Electric, Laramie, February 2015) -- Work is in progress on the east and west doorways to the atrium area. Please use caution near workers and equipment in this area.

Centennial Complex (Marshall Contracting, August 2015) -- Renovations are ongoing in the existing kitchen and dining areas on the first floor of the complex. These areas will be renovated to be used as a classroom and studio to support the Art Museum’s K-12 programs and other education initiatives. Construction is mostly contained within the existing kitchen and dining areas. Please use caution around crews and equipment in the area.

Knight Hall (Physical Plant and Arcon Inc., Laramie, February 2015) -- Construction of the ADA ramp is in progress. The remaining carpentry work in the area will be finished the week of March 2. The balance of the floors will be refinished during spring break. At that time, the corridor will be closed again and pedestrian detours will be posted. Please use caution around crews and equipment in the area.

Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts (Voltech Electric, Laramie, March 2015) -- The main lobby is reopened. Installation of lighting will resume following final design work.

Classroom Upgrades Project (Marshall Contracting, Spiegelberg Lumber & Building, Arcon Inc., Laramie, February 2015) -- Construction is underway on the first classrooms to receive upgrades as part of this project. Work will be ongoing in Law School Room 191, Ross Hall Rooms 108/109, Arts and Sciences Room 209, Engineering Room 1044 and Wyoming Hall Rooms 240 and 434. Please be aware of crews and equipment in the area of these classrooms.

History -- Due to necessary abatement for upcoming classroom renovations and ADA upgrades to the building, the first floor bathroom will remain closed. Work in this area is scheduled to begin in mid-March.

Visual Arts (UW Physical Plant) -- Investigation of a cold draft will continue on the southwest end of the second floor. Please use caution near workers and equipment in this area. 

Education Annex West Stairwell (General contractor Arcon Inc., Laramie, scheduled completion March 2015) -- The west stairwell will be remodeled to match the east stairwell, including an upgrade to energy-efficient lighting. Installation of the handrail is ongoing. The west stairwell will be closed except for emergency exiting. Please be aware of crews and equipment in the area.

Information Technology Center (Encore Electric, Englewood, June 2015) -- Improvements to the UPS System are ongoing. Work will be mainly above the ceiling space on the first floor, east side of the building. Local coordination will be via Jerome Lindsey. Please use caution near crews and equipment.

1217 Lewis St. Apartments (Summit Trucking and House Moving, May 2015) -- The apartments at 1217 Lewis St. are being deconstructed. Please use caution near this site.

Health Sciences Building (Stonehouse Inc., Laramie) -- All entryways to the Classroom Building and Health Sciences have been restored. Base preparation and concrete placement will begin when weather allows. Please use caution when exiting the Health Sciences Building on the southeast side. A temporary earthen walkway will be in place until concrete can be restored.

Centennial Complex (Mullen’s Heating, Laramie, February 2015) -- Energy-efficiency and air-quality upgrades to the air-handling system are complete.