The completion deadline for the Science Initiative building (SI) is set for Spring 2022, though it may face possible delays after the building flooded on the evening of January 27th.
“Tiles were sopping and falling apart,” an anonymous source said.
GE Johnson Construction, serving as the construction-manager-at-risk (CMAR) on the project, operating out of its Jackson office, confirmed the damages on Monday afternoon.
“There was a water incident on Thursday (January 27th) at the Science Initiative Building project,” Tony Glawe the senior project manager for GE Johnson said in an email to the Branding Iron.
According to an anonymous source, the incident arose after a safety switch connected to a water feature/pipe installation failed.
The water and air in the pipes cooled and ultimately froze, causing multiple radiators to crack resulting in a flood that stretched from the fourth floor down to the first.
The source also indicated that an estimated quarter-million dollars worth of damage was done.
The funding for the SI building is set at around $100 million.
The overwhelming majority is funded by the State of Wyoming, with the remaining amount, approximately $15 million, provided by the university.
“We fully anticipate any damage to the project will be covered by insurance, avoiding any financial impacts to UW,’ Glawe said in the statement, regarding the financial burden of damages done to the building.
There are no current photos of the damage as any pictures in the SI building are prohibited at this time.
Ground was ceremonially broken on SI by University and state officials in November of 2018. With official construction commencing in 2019.
The new facility is set to boast state-of-the-art research and laboratory facilities, a 200 seat active-learning classroom, and a greenhouse located on the roof.
The building is part of an initiative created in 2014 by then-Governor Matt Mead, in an effort to bring the university’s science programs into the top-quartile nationally.
“This will be a world-class place to learn science,” Mead said at the ground breaking ceremony.
According to the University’s Planning and Construction office, the construction has stayed on schedule since the project began.
“There have been no delays to the project to date.” Sam Farstad Sr. project manager of the planning and construction office said in an email.
“We will rely on GE Johnson to problem solve and deliver the building to us,” Farstad said in reference to the flood.
Other University offices say that they are currently unable to provide additional information about the status of the project.
“Because the Science Initiative Building has not yet been turned over from the contractor to UW, we aren’t able to provide much information.” Chad Baldwin Associate Vice President of UW Marketing and Communications said in an email.
There still remains no clear answer as to when students can expect the building to open for operations.
“Substantial completion was always scheduled for February 2022,” Farstad said. “Please keep in mind that substantial completion does not mean building occupancy.”
