Site work began last week in Laramie on the high profile project to renovate the University of Wyoming Arena Auditorium, and the project has been awarded to a Park County construction company.

The Cody office of Sletten Construction of Wyoming is the contractor on the second phase of improvements to the UW basketball arena. The basketball court was realigned and new seating was installed in phase one, in addition to new locker rooms and team facilities.

The $13.28 million second phase project will result in a new exterior look for the AA. In a tribute to former UW great and All American Kenny Sailors, it will provide a major new facade with an addition to the east side of the building, along with changes to the concourse and spectator services. Those include improved concessions and merchandise areas, restrooms and a central ticket office.

Completion date for the project is Oct. 16, 2017.

“It is a neat project and quite a challenge,” said Shawn Warner, president of Sletten Construction of Wyoming.

The challenge is intensified by the scheduling. Construction will be ongoing during both men’s and women’s basketball season games, as well as daily practices in the facility.

“The work has to be done around those events, and we’re tearing off the front entryway,” Warner pointed out.

The exterior facade will include a silhouette of Kenny Sailors, making the new entrance more visible and welcoming.

The architect on the project is “By Architectural Means” of Cheyenne. Funding will come from $5 million in state appropriations, private donations and matching state funds.

Trent Urwiller of Powell is the project superintendent and will be on the job full-time. Austin Allen from Burlington, who works out of the Cody office, is the project manager and will be on the jobsite once a week for a day or two at a time.