2021 Directory

26 WYOMING ARCHITECTURE .21 | aia-wyoming.org IMAGES COURTESY OF GSG ARCHITECTURE dents through interactive lec- tures, small group discussions and case studies, along with web-based learning opportuni- ties outside of class. Often re- ferred to as smart classrooms or flexible classrooms, ALC spaces offer a cutting-edge way to ed- ucate students, and research shows that when teaching in an ALC setting, attendance, partic- ipation and grades are way up, says Schenk. A customized sound system developed at Stanford main- tains the sound for each group of students without interference from other areas in the space. Specialized audio visual and IT systems throughout the facility will allowusers to share their re- search in real time. TEMPERATURE CONTROL “As the project’s design pro- gressed, additional funding en- abled the university to add quite a bit of work, including an inno- vative rooftop greenhouse with its own mechanical and electri- cal system,” Schenk says. The rooftop structure in- cludes 12 research-quality bays that are remarkable in terms of their height (20 ft tall) and scale, andmore sophisticated than typical greenhouses due to their ability to introduce additives into the air for studying plant growth in different environments. “These are not your typical greenhouses,” Schenk says. A greenhouse specialist from Canada worked with the design team to create space that could simu- late certain environments while controlling for tem- perature and humidity. Designed with insulated glazing and aluminum, the structure includes specialized systems that can control the mechanical system in each of the bays as well as flexibility to open windows and vents to deal with the climate like a normal greenhouse space. Outside, semi-protected areas will be available for planting, along with soil prep lab areas and room for testing and experiments. “We have been building greenhouses on the ground around the world, but constructing this 12-bay green- house on the building’s fifth floor with the Wyoming winds in January made it more challenging,” says GE Johnson project manager Jeff Meena, noting that it can be 29 degrees below zero with the windchill. GE Johnson is no stranger to battling Laramie’s bru- tal winter weather, having built several projects at UW over the years. “We have great crews and craftsmen who are dedicated to the job and to the winter con- ditions,” Meena says. “We have weathered the storm, with 220 to 250 craftsmen from Wyoming, Colorado and Utah working inside and outside on the project. We’ve kicked up our cleaning protocols, kept everyone safe, and it’s worked out very well.” “The lion’s share of the construction progress to date has been in the midst of a pandemic, which certainly throws a wrinkle into an already complex project. Hat’s off to the University of Wyoming and all our project partners to make this a reality through diligent safety precautions and exemplary logistical process manage- ment,” Farstad says. n ON DISPLAY The interior design features ample meeting and gathering spaces, plus opportunities to show off the work happening within the building. TOP TIER More than 153,000 sq ft of classrooms and labs will support cutting-edge learning and research. “We have weathered the storm, with 220 to 250 craftsmen from Wyoming, Colorado and Utah working inside and outside on the project.” —Jeff Meena Project Manager, GE Johnson enr.com/mountainstates February 15/22, 2021 m ENRMountainStates MS27 MS025_ENR0215_MS_DIGG Wyoming.indd 27 2/8/21 10:59 AM Reprinted courtesy of Engineering News-Record, copyright BNP Media, February 15/22, 2021, all rights reserved.