Alec Schaffer
aschaff3@uwyo.edu
University of Wyoming’s President, Richard McGinity met with the Laramie City council Tuesday evening, regarding updates with the development of the new engineering building.
“We’re here to talk to you about a very exciting project, it involves a new engineering building” University of Wyoming President McGinity said.
The New Engineering building is to be completed in late summer 2019, construction is scheduled to begin in early 2017. The building will be located across Lewis Street, directly behind the 1980 Engineering building addition. The total budget allocated for the project is $101.3 million, with $73.4 million of the budget identified for the cost of construction. The University of Wyoming also made previsions for the project scope, should the Wyoming Legislature reinstate $4.7 million for the project during 2016 legislative secession.
The new engineering building is part of the university’s long-term development plans, that will expand campus north, onto Lewis and 11th and 12th street.
“If the development plans move forward which would require the vacation of Lewis, 11th and 12th street, which would turn into emergency access only and that area would be very nicely landscaped for our campus and our neighbors” Michael Pishko, dean of the college of engineering and applied science, said.
The new engineering building project is currently at the end of the somatic phase of the project and is being reviewed by an exterior design committee.
“An important part of the effort that the university has taken to maintain architectural integrity across campus and not repeat the mistakes of the 1980s engineering building,” Pishko said. “We created an exterior design committee and the key is to bring elements of Prexie’s to how the exterior looks.”
Councilor Vicki Henry expressed concerns as to how construction related vehicles could pose problems for current residence in the neighbor hoods around Lewis Street.
“We certainly know this is something we need to address, we are starting talks with the construction company” Crystal Arisen, the Project Manager said.
Some possible solutions that were discussed included, providing parking for construction workers east of campus or in a parking lot at an off site location and shuttling the construction workers to the work site.
Additionally, the First Methodist Church of Laramie has offered their parking lot as a potential location for the parking of construction vehicles. Other concerns brought up by the city council members included what effect the new engineering building will have on casting shadows over the surrounding residential neighborhoods.
A public meeting to discuss the new engineering building will be held in the Berry Center Nov. 4.
