Campus Construction Update for Dec. 20

These are among the construction activities scheduled Dec. 20-Jan. 8 at the University of Wyoming:

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:

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 90 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) -- The next Owner/Architect/Contractor (OAC) meeting has been rescheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 23. The shop drawing/submittal and review process also is taking place. Required structural repairs to the lower level of Hoyt Hall are nearing completion and are being performed under a separate contract managed by the UW Physical Plant. The general contractor for the renovation project (Elk Ridge) has mobilized on site and work in Hoyt Hall has begun. Work also will occur over the holiday break. A designated contractor parking area has been established on the west side of the building. The Hoyt Hall Renovation work is expected to be substantially complete by July 22, 2016. 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 will begin installation Dec. 30. 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) -- 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, along with the pool. Upper and lower day parking lots are open.

The UW Physical Plant has 301 projects in progress valued at more than $45.3 million. Following is a list of ongoing construction activities in areas of campus that may impact you:

Engineering Building (The Plumbing Company, Laramie; Dec. 22) -- A 3-way hot water valve that serves the primary coil on air handler No. 3 is being replaced Dec. 22 due to leaking conditions. Control measures will be implemented to ensure that the air serving the northwest column of the building will remain appropriately tempered during the valve replacement. Occupants in the northwest column of the building might experience brief periods of slightly cooler air during this 3-5 hour process. Please call the Physical Plant service desk if any rooms become thermostatically uncomfortable during the valve replacement.  

Downey/Orr Halls (KONE Inc., Moline, Ill.; January 2016) -- The governor will be replaced on elevator No. 1 and sheaves replaced on elevator No. 2 between Jan. 4-21. Elevators will be down during this work, though not simultaneously. Please use caution near crews and equipment.

Fieldhouse North (JC Construction, Laramie; April 2016) -- Demolition is scheduled to begin Dec. 21 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 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. 

Aven Nelson (UW Physical Plant) -- Painting of interior public spaces is scheduled to begin the week of Dec. 23. The stairwells will be the focus of this project, tying them in with the corridors that were painted in 2013-2014. Painting is expected to continue for several weeks. Please be cautious of crews and equipment in the area.

Animal Science/Molecular Biology (UW Physical Plant, ARTECH Inc., Laramie; January 2016) -- Refrigeration upgrades to the existing system serving the meat lab processing room began 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, weather permitting. Please use caution near crews and equipment.

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. 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; 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. 

Visual Arts Building (UW Physical Plant; January 2016) -- Air pressure testing will be conducted Jan. 4-22. 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 complete. Punch list items and cleanup are 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.

Arts and Sciences Building (Shepard Construction; Rawlins; December 2015) -- Construction of a ramp for access to the north side of the A&S auditorium stage is complete.