Category: Fort Wayne News

Time for Focus in 2024

Posted on April 2, 2024

An Excerpt from our Q1 Newsletter

New Year, New Tasks

As we’re already a quarter of the way into 2024, my mind races forward with the question that many of us ask from time to time, what’s next? However, I’m quickly reminded of what’s right in front of me for today: the task at hand.

In Looking Ahead

Regardless of the role that you play, at Weigand, we all enjoy looking ahead. Sometimes, however (or maybe it’s just me), we can take our eyes off of the work we have, in the moment. On the glass of my office door, I have a sticker of our Core Competencies. One of those competencies is, “Attention to Detail”. As my business development team members will attest to, I’m a stickler for detail. Charles Swindoll, a pastor and author, says, “the difference between something good and something great, is attention to detail.”

It’s the Little Things

In today’s environment of constant busyness, the challenge I have for myself, and I would encourage you to consider as well, is to focus on the little things, the details. If each of us do that, we can turn our good ideas, methods, and solutions, into great ones. Let’s make 2024 a year of dialing into the details and keeping our eyes on the mark!

Mike Miller

Business Development Associate

NACS School To Have Tremendous Expansion

Posted on April 2, 2024

Investing in the Future

Staff and leadership from throughout the Northwest Allen County School community came together to celebrate the beginning of the construction phase for Carroll Highschool’s newest construction project. One of three major NACS projects that broke ground in February, Carroll Highschool’s is an expansion and renovation that will address the need for more space as the student population continues to grow. Barton Coe Vilamaa is the operating architect while WCI is partnering in a Construction Manager as Constructor (CMc) role.

Space to Stretch Out

The school’s expansion will prevent overcrowding issues and ensure that there are enough resources to care for every student in attendance at any given time with additions such as:

- 27 Classrooms and Support Spaces
- New Central Media Center
- New Weight Room
- 4,000 Square Feet Added to Cafeteria
- Facility Renovations/Repurposed Classrooms
- And More

In total, this scope of work will create capacity for another 500 students to enter the Carroll Highschool system.

Extended Partnership

This is not the first major construction project that Weigand has performed for this client. In 2021, we teamed up with NACS to bring several large site upgrades to the Charger campus, including a new football field, parking improvements, bleachers, baseball and softball fields, press box, concessions stand, and merchandise store amongst other additions. These developments helped to advance Carroll’s athletics programs, and we’re looking forward to being part of another project that will enhance the learning experience, efficiency, and overall operational strength of the school.

New NACS Building is On the Way

Posted on April 2, 2024

A Facility to Serve the Region

In January, we joined with our partners from Elevatus Architecture and Northwest Allen County Schools to kickoff construction at the site of the upcoming NACS Administration Center. This building will allow the school community administrative team to conduct daily operations outside of a school campus, as the current office is located within Perry Hill Elementary. The relocation of the NACS offices will also allow Perry Hill to utilize this space for four more classrooms.

Central Administrative Hub

When finished, the 33,000 square foot Administration Center will feature:

A Multi-Use Board Room for Meetings and Training
Base of Operations for Multiple Departments
Office of Superintendent
Technology Headquarters
Multi-Use Kitchen Space
And More

These components add up to a successful execution of NACS’ future workload, thinking ahead to best serve the needs of each school in the district. Being only one of three large construction projects taking place in their community, the Administration building will help to place every arm of the organization under one roof amidst the imminent population growth in the region.

A Bright, Hopeful Future

“It will be a place where ideas are born, decisions are made, and strategies are implemented to further our mission to ensure a high-quality, personalized education for every student…Together, we’re building more than just a building. We’re building a stronger, more vibrant future for NACS and our school community.”
Wayne Barker, Superintendent, Northwest Allen County Schools

We are proud to have a role in this project with NACS and Elevatus. Once completed, this facility will be able to create a profound impact on the schools, families, and students in the community, making Northwest Fort Wayne a better place to live, learn, work, and play for years and years to come!

Exciting, Newcomer School Project Kickoff!

Posted on April 2, 2024

A New School for a New Region

In Huntertown, IN, rows of shovels plunged into soft earth on a rainy morning, tossing soil across the gravel covering the site of a brand-new middle school in the Northern Allen County Schools community: Willow Creek. Backed by a row of earthworks equipment, NACS representatives, the Moake Park Architecture Team, and community leaders commemorated the start of the construction phase, eager to bring this dream project into the real world.

Learning Path Opportunities

This school, which will feed into Carroll High School once completed, will have features such as:

Space to Accommodate Up to 1,000 students
Span 185,500 Square Feet
Administrative Space
Gymnasium
Student Library
Cafeteria
Auditorium
Social/Study Spaces
Band Room
And More

These elements speak to the intentionality and preparation that NACS leadership has put into planning this project, as the Huntertown region is continually expanding, with neighborhood developments continuing to expand into all pockets of Northwest Fort Wayne.

“This is just another step forward in our mission to ensure high quality, personalized education for every student.”
Wayne Barker, Superintendent, Northwest Allen County Schools

Community Legacy

This project was also made possible with the help of the Malcom and Hatch families, who agreed to sell sections of their land to be used to build Willow Creek.

“As we break this ground today, let’s look back and be thankful for the generations of Malcom’s and Hatch’s that have farmed this land and let us also look forward and envision the vibrant learning community that will soon take shape within the school walls that are constructed here. A community where curiosity is encouraged, talents are nurtured, and friendships are forged.”
Wayne Barker, Superintendent, Northwest Allen County Schools

We’re excited to serve on this NACS project, bringing more education opportunities to more families in the community!

3 Powerful Takeaways from 2023

Posted on December 18, 2023

An excerpt from our Q4 Newsletter

Company Milestones

2023 has been a great year for Weigand Construction. We have experienced measured growth and currently have a healthy backlog going into 2024. Many of you know that we have been providing Construction Management as Constructor (CMc) services to our private clients since 1994. In 2017, the state allowed public projects, such as schools, jails, courthouses, and more to be delivered in this manner.

The Partner Advantage

Our public partners have enjoyed the benefits associated with this method, and because of that, a large portion of our growth is attributed to CMc. This wouldn’t be possible without strong preconstruction and estimating services to set the table and an operations team that executes on promises made during our interviews.

Thanks to You

It’s a rewarding feeling to have our clients reach out to their peers to share their experiences with our team. Thank you for all of your hard work and partnering mentality when it comes to supporting our clients. It matters! We will continue to work as an extension of our clients and be more than just their builder. It’s all a part of what it means to embody the Weigand Difference.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Chris Sosebee

Director of Business Development

Parkview Southwest, New Outpatient Center Arrives in Fort Wayne

Posted on December 18, 2023

Cutting the Ribbon

Waves of cheers and celebration reverberated through the halls of the new Parkview Southwest facility as Dr. Greg Johnson, Regional Market President at Parkview Health, Gail Altekruse, Vice President of Operations at Parkview Southwest, and Larry Weigand, CEO of Weigand Construction, cut the ribbon, officially opening the building. What first began as an idea in 2018 concluded after five years of inspiration, determination, and hard work.

“The Parkview team is excited about the opportunity to serve and extend our services in our community to this campus and this beautiful facility…”
Dr. Greg Johnson, Regional Market President, Parkview Health

Strengthening Another Community

Serving the Southwest region of Fort Wayne, the new facility centralizes and brings additions to the existing Parkview services off of Glencarin Boulevard. Known as the Parkview Southwest Outpatient Center, the building gives patients access to a host of healthcare offerings such as:

Sleep Medicine
Cardiology
Colon & Rectal Surgery
Emergency Medicine
General Surgery
Gastroenterology
Cancer
Neurosciences
Orthopedics
Podiatry

“Our biggest consideration for bringing this group of services and this group of specialists to the Southwest part of Allen County was because, frankly, we were getting requests from other people that are part of the Parkview family that already come to Parkview for their healthcare, and they wanted something closer to their home and so we responded to that need.”
Gail Altekruse, Vice President of Operations at Parkview Southwest, Parkview Health

Excellence is Key

Aware of how important this project would be for the community, Parkview leadership knew that they wanted to offer only the best for those coming to receive medical care at this campus.

“Rick Henvey, our CEO… has challenged us throughout this project to make this an excellent experience for our patients.”
John Bowen, President, Parkview Regional Medical Center & Affiliates, Parkview Health

We’re proud to partner once again with Parkview Health and bring this vision to life through the Outpatient Center addition!

New Beginnings as School Year Kicks Off!

Posted on September 18, 2023

An excerpt from our Q3 Newsletter

Diane Woodworth, Business Development Education Specialist

Welcome to the fall edition of the Weigand Newsletter! As a retired educator and school superintendent, I love this season. While working in K-12, I always enjoyed the new beginnings and fresh starts that each autumn brought as a new school year commenced.

Now that I’ve retired from education, it still brings me joy seeing the yellow buses out and about, and the many students on playgrounds and practice fields as I drive by their schools.

These days, I thoroughly enjoy new cycles vicariously through observing these little moments. Here at Weigand, we hope you are also enjoying the fall season and that you have your own reasons to love the page turn it offers us as the air turns crisp and the leaves change color.

With so many changes happening in education across the country, it has left many people wondering what the year ahead has in store for students, teachers, and administrators alike. I’ll be discussing topics like this and more in my new series, the K-12 Corner, premiering in this edition of our newsletter!

Thanks for stopping by, we’ll see you later this year with more news and project updates!

Diane Woodworth

Business Development Education Specialist

Another Downtown “Gem” Tops Out

Posted on September 18, 2023

From the Top

The Pearl, a mixed-used development being constructed at 247 Pearl Street in downtown Fort Wayne, reached a significant milestone today with a festive steel topping out ceremony held at the construction site. The event marked the completion of the structural framework and symbolized the progress made on this exciting project.

Weigand Construction and Surack Enterprises gathered to commemorate the placement of the final steel beam, which was signed by the construction crew as part of the ceremony. As the beam was lifted into place, adorned with an evergreen tree and an American flag, a sense of achievement and pride permeated the atmosphere. This moment marks a major milestone of the project, which has been in active construction since the spring of 2022.

The Pearl will be another gem in our downtown.
Larry Weigand, CEO, Weigand Construction

The Tree and the Beam

Larry gives some thoughts regarding the construction process

A time-honored tradition for hundreds of years, topping out ceremonies have been a staple of construction practiced by generations of builders across the globe. It is said that the pine tree, attached to the final beam, used to serve the purpose of signaling when wood frames were ready to cover, and symbolized. When the pine needles fell off the tree, it meant enough time passed for the timber to dry and cure. Though it is more symbolic than functional now, the pine tree is a special practice that binds its legacy to the builders that came before us.

Down to the Numbers

Throughout the course of the building phase, the construction crew at The Pearl has reached:

The flag, banner, and tree getting lifted up with the beam

Over 11,000 yards of concrete poured to date.
50,000+ Weigand Construction man hours.
Over 100+ Field Staff on site and rising.
4000+ tons of rebar installed.
Zero recordable accidents or safety incidents to date.

By late summer in 2024, The Pearl will be completed, creating a new space for residents, employers, restaurants, and businesses to call home. It will feature:

76 Residential Apartments
5 Live/Work Storefronts
On-Site Residential Parking
Mail and Delivery Hubspot
On-Site Fitness Center

“It’s going to be a further expansion of the downtown and particularly of The Landing.” – Chuck Surack, Founder and CEO, Surack Enterprises

“Some of the tenants will take occupancy next year right around this time, and we are looking good as far as finishing up about a year from right now.” – Larry Weigand, CEO, Weigand Construction

With the project’s slated completion date, we are eagerly anticipating the wonderful addition this will bring to the downtown skyline!

Chuck Surack, Lisa Surack, and Larry Weigand observe the beam

The banner signifying the union workers on the job

The final beam getting secured to the frame

The crew looks on as the ceremony commences

Fine Arts Facility Tops Out at Canterbury

Posted on September 18, 2023

Touch Down

This August, we marked a momentous occasion and celebrated the completion of the steel framing at the new Canterbury Fine Arts Center. With an audience that included donors, architects, students, faculty, and staff, our crew carefully secured the final steel beam, a symbolic touch that signifies the culmination of this important phase.

Fostering Artistic Passion

Once finished, this 18,000 square-foot facility will provide students with a dedicated space to cultivate their artistic talents. From visual design to musical performance, acting in theatre to creating stunning artwork, or even recording audio, this center is meticulously crafted to offer learners an environment that will elevate their educational experience and empower them to pursue their dreams.

The Fine Arts Center will feature:

A Gallery
2D Art Studio
3D Art Studio
Blackbox Theatre
Theatre Dressing Rooms
Music Classroom
Choral Room
Practice Rooms
Recording and Podcasting Studios
Media Lab
And More!

The wide range of artistic disciplines supported in the new building guarantee opportunities for students across a broad swathe of interests and focuses. For David Jackson, Head of School at Canterbury, the intent behind this project was to ensure that education in the arts wasn’t an after-school activity, but rather “a core part of the academic experience…This facility will ensure generationally that Canterbury students, and students from the Fort Wayne area will have access to an incredible arts education.” Jackson recognized the generous donations by the Surack and James families. Their philanthropy funded this $10.5M project, making a way for this dream to become a reality.

The Next Step

From here, our team will embark on the next steps, which involve enclosing the facility. We are eagerly looking forward to the day when students can step into this new home of the school’s Academy of Arts and embark on an exciting journey of creativity and discovery!

Students and faculty watching the ceremony

Worker tightening the final beam in place in the frame

Workers removing the cables from the beam

Noble County Wins Big at the APWA’s

Posted on June 19, 2023

We’ve got a Winner!

The Noble County Annex Project was recently awarded as the 2022 Project of the Year by the Indiana Chapter of the American Public Works Association! This building, which was assembled in the midst of Covid-19, opened its doors June 3rd of 2022. Congratulations to the Noble County and American Structurepoint for this well-deserved honor!

The Annex is part of a bigger whole that’s happening in Albion. The project created space for offices and departments in the existing, outdated courthouse. Now that the move is complete, the next step is updating the courthouse building. We look forward to the benefits our next Noble County job will bring to the community!

A special thanks to our project management team and our field operations crew. The successful construction of this facility would not have been possible without their expertise and dedication. Their commitment to the client, even when building during a pandemic, paved the way for all of us to accept this award.