Campus Construction Update for Dec. 13

These are among the construction activities scheduled Dec. 13-19 at the University of Wyoming:

Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts (General contractor Sampson Construction, Cheyenne) -- Substantial completion has been issued, and the new addition is occupied. Punch-list work is 85 percent complete.

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. Landscape plantings and boulder placement are ongoing. Be cautious with heavy equipment in the east parking area and sidewalks. Material staging is in the north parking lot.

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

Hoyt Hall Renovation (General contractor Elk Ridge Builders & Design LLC, Laramie; anticipated substantial completion July 22, 2016) -- An initial pre-construction meeting and walk-through of the building with the design and construction teams took place Friday, Nov. 6. The next Owner/Architect/Contractor (OAC) meeting is scheduled Wednesday, Dec. 16. The shop drawing/submittal process is well underway. Required structural repairs to the lower level of Hoyt Hall are approximately 95 percent complete and are being performed under a separate contract managed by the UW Physical Plant. Physical renovation work in Hoyt Hall has begun and will be substantially complete by July 22, 2016. Please observe all temporary barricades, 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 this week. This work will continue through April. The concrete floor slabs in the north and west wings of the building have been poured, with the exception of the electrical room and the remaining lift of concrete to complete the strong floor in the Structural Testing Lab. Reinforcing rebar has been installed in the floor of the Structural Testing Lab. Light-gauge framing for the exterior walls of the building began on the West Wing December 2. Insulation for the roofing on the West Wing will begin near the end of December.

Half Acre Gymnasium Addition and Renovation (General contractor Groathouse Construction Inc., Cody) -- Phase 1 of the Half Acre Recreation and Wellness Center is open. Punch-list tasks and building technology subsystem work toward Phase 2 renovation continue. Pedestrian access to the new south building entrance from Prexy’s Pasture and from the east Wyoming Union parking lot is open. Please observe temporary barricades, cautionary signs or other posted instructions in areas where work continues.

The west historic entrance has reopened to allow access to new offices, training rooms and classroom. The refurbished gymnasium and expanded running track are open and in use. Upper and lower day parking lots are open.

The UW Physical Plant has 293 projects in progress valued at more than $44.2 million. Following is a list of ongoing construction activities in areas of campus that may impact you:

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.

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.

Animal Science/Molecular Biology (UW Physical Plant, ARTECH Inc., Laramie; January 2016) -- Refrigeration upgrades to the existing system serving the meat lab processing room will begin Dec. 14. Work is expected to be complete in early January. Caulking of the meat lab walls will occur simultaneously. Work will be contained within the Animal Science Meat Lab and associated mechanical room.

Wyoming Union Parking Lot (Simon Contractors, Cheyenne, December 2015) -- The contractor is scheduled to address punch-list items in the northeast handicapped parking area. Please use caution near crews and equipment.

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.

General Storage Transformer Replacement (Trident Electric, Laramie; December 2015) -- 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. Use caution near crews and equipment and the hole that has been dug. The building is now operating on generator power only.

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.

Foundation House, War Memorial Fieldhouse and Education Building (UW Equipment Services) -- Roof and gutter cleaning will occur with a snorkel lift, weather permitting. Expect delays and/or temporary closure of parking and vehicle drives around the perimeter of the buildings. Use caution near crews and equipment.

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; December 2015) -- Work is ongoing to perform control upgrades in the Health Sciences wing of the building. Work is complete in the Pharmacy Building penthouse unit. The air-handling unit will be shut down for several hours to perform the upgrade. This upgrade is part of a recommissioning project of the whole complex to increase system performance and energy efficiencies.

Arts and Sciences Building (Shepard Construction; Rawlins; December 2015) -- A ramp is being constructed for access to the north side of the A&S auditorium stage. Light installation and some painting remain to be done in Room 118. Please use caution around crews and equipment.

Visual Arts Building (UW Physical Plant; December 2015) -- Air pressure testing will be conducted this week. Exhaust fans will be turned off for several hours when testing is ongoing. Process exhaust will be unavailable during the testing.

Biological Sciences Building (Laramie Heating and Sheet Metal; December 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.

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

Knight Hall Student Financial Operations (JC Construction, Laramie; December 2015) -- Renovation of the cashiers’ area is underway. The move into the office suite is complete, and punch-list items are in progress. Casework delivery has occurred, and installation will take place over winter break. Please be cautious of crews and equipment in the area.

Hoyt Hall (UW Physical Plant, Arcon Inc.; December 2015) -- Repairs to the basement 1915 and 1921 portions of the interior steel frame structure are nearing completion. Wall demolition, floor repair and wall patching will be ongoing. Staging will be north of the building and south of Student Health. Access to the building is restricted. Please use caution around crews and equipment.

Jacoby Golf Course (UW Physical Plant; January 2016) -- Work to remove bushes along 30th Street near the northwest corner of the course is complete.

Physical Sciences Building (Electrical Solutions, Laramie; Cowboy Moving and Storage, Laramie; December 2015) -- Renovations to Room 129 are complete.

Physical Sciences Building (Mullen’s Heating Inc., Cheyenne; December 2015) -- Structural modifications to existing air filter banks are complete.