Old Stoney renovation keeps progressing

Old Stoney may have suffered a brief setback when it came time to install the elevator, but the renovation is still bringing changes to the building day by day. The project is progressing nicely despite the delay, say Rocky Courchaine and Pam Thompson.

Recent work on the building has included an alteration to the heating and cooling system that had originally been planned. Thanks to a suggestion from Powder River Energy, the change is expected to lower costs for the building once complete.

"The heating system – the HVAC – is a high-efficiency heating and cooling system that was higher in cost to install, but the operational cost is going to be a lot less," says Courchaine.

Old Stoney can now be placed on an energy incentive program launched by Powder River Energy.

"The system a little more expensive, but it's efficient enough on its own that that is going to help with the heating bills and then we have the incentive from PRECorp that's also going to help," says Thompson. "It's not all year long, it's for the winter months."

Old Stoney will be a pioneer for the new incentive program.

"We are going to be one of the first commercial buildings in Sundance to take advantage of this program. They've done it for private but not commercial, it's still in the works," Courchaine says.

Sheet rock ceilings are now up, Courchaine says, and insulation has been installed.

"The insulation goes up into the attic," says Thompson.

Meanwhile, the concrete in the basement was poured last week, something that could not be done until the elevator had been figured out. The project was delayed during the elevator portion as the contractors worked carefully to excavate below the building's footers – a potentially precarious process.

During this portion, the position of the elevator was altered, turning it in a different direction to the original plans. "We lost space, but we'll deal with it," says Courchaine.

The elevator, which is also underway, has changed the look of the building, says Thompson.

"Some years ago, when we were talking about doing this and we wanted to put an elevator in it, I know I and I think a lot of other people thought we were going to just stick an elevator in and it was still going to look the same on the inside," says Thompson.

"Now, when you go back in, it doesn't look the same as it did three years ago, but it looks pretty cool."

Upcoming work includes the remaining portion of the windows that are to be installed as part of phase one, which is concentrated on the main and lower floors.

"The east side windows will be installed this week on the museum floor. The week after that will be the basement on the east side," says Courchaine. "The basement level will have the east and north side done. Phase two has the auditorium windows and that's what's left."

Before the windows are installed, Thompson adds, the old windows will be removed with the assistance of the Wyoming Honor Farm.

The timing may have changed a little, but, "Estimated costs are still on budget because of the due diligence of MAC Construction," says Courchaine. "The subcontractors are also working great with us."

The expected completion date for the Old Stoney restoration project is in April and the museum will begin moving into the building immediately.