This August, our team stood alongside Vincent Village, Inc., project partners, and community representatives to break ground on a new homeless shelter.
“We are laying the foundation for brigher futures, stronger families. This shelter represents an $18M investment but we are just not breaking ground on a new shelter, we’re breaking ground on human potential.” – Rohli Booker, Director of Mission Advancement, Vincent Village, Inc. and Fort Wayne City Council Member
This project, which is part of a larger campaign to revitalize the southeast section of the city, was made possible through generous donations and an open network of support from the surrounding Fort Wayne community. It is a key turning point for the nonprofit organization, which has operated since 1989 with a mission to create pathways for families in need, facilitating a transition from a state of crisis to long-term stability.
Building New Opportunities
Planned by MartinRiley Architects and developed by Weigand Construction, the new transitional shelter will greatly expand the operational capacity of Vincent Village’s programming with features such as:
13 Bedrooms
Kitchen
Laundry Room
Multi-Use Youth Services Room
“Currently, our shelter’s 10 rooms. There’s only two bathrooms in the current shelter, so all the families share those bathrooms. In the new shelter, each room will have its own bathroom, building dignity and support.” – Rob Haworth, Executive Director, Vincent Village, Inc.
This facility will create a greater sense of ownership and privacy for families who are receiving care through the organization, providing spaces where they can recover and as they proactively take steps towards a new beginning. The project also involves demolition of some existing structures on Vincent Village propery, including the removal of the historic St. Hyacinth Church, which was the original home of Vincent Village 36 years ago.
A New Chapter
This event was more than groundbreaking, it was a milestone marking a new story of hope for families throughout the southeast region of Fort Wayne, Indiana. We are excited to work alongside Vincent Village and MartinRiley in helping bring the vision of this new shelter to life.
The second-grade class at Southwick Elementary were excited to help kick off construction of their new and upcoming school facility, located on Paulding Road in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The project is one of three that Weigand Construction is managing for East Allen County Schools, alongside the new Lions Fieldhouse and the East Allen University/Paul Harding Junior High School campus renovation.
“The project represents a commitment to our students. It is a commitment to building a future for them and a place where they will learn, grow, and thrive in spaces that support their curiosity and creativity.” – Marilyn Hissong, Superintendent, East Allen County Schools
A Growing District
Designed by Garmann Miller, the new facility will bring much needed space to address the school’s burgeoning student population. Attendance increased by 8% over the last year alone, with more expected in the near future. With this in mind, the replacement building will have:
Pod Style Layout
Gymnasium
Double Sided Stage
Classrooms
Dining Area
Community Event Spaces
With some students currently being housed in the nearby Prince Chapman Academy, the completion of this project will be a welcome addition to the EACS roster, helping to manage the influx of young learners entering the district.
A Team Effort
While sharing her remarks during the event, Superintendent Marilyn Hissong noted that it takes collaboration and the involvement of the entire region to help such an undertaking as this one materialize.
“This school will stand as a symbol of what’s possible when a community comes together for its children.” – Marilyn Hissong, Superintendent, East Allen County Schools
We’re thankful to be part of the group delivering the new Southwick Elementary building, which is positioned to nurture future generations of students as they develop, discover, and grow.
By building the track as a single surface, crews eliminated the weak points that typically form between segmented sections. This continuous foundation enhances drainage and ensures long-term durability. A cushioned rubber-and-polyurethane layer will be added this fall, providing athletes with a softer, more forgiving surface.
The investment delivers long-term reliability and performance. In northern Indiana, freeze-thaw cycles are notorious for causing concrete to crack, but by removing joints that collect water and ice, the new surface is engineered to last for decades of use.
The strength and stability of this design also comes from within as the track makes use of post-tension cables, a technique found in parking decks, tennis courts, and even airport runways. As concrete expands and contracts in response to temperature changes, cracks can form. Tightened after curing, the cables compress the surface, reducing stress points and preventing water from seeping in.
A Foundation Serving Generations
“The cables come with a 50-year warranty,” the project’s Superintendent RJ Eck says, “providing Concord Community Schools confidence in the project’s quality.”
Executing the continuous pour required meticulous coordination and precision. Nearly 1,000 cubic yards of concrete were delivered in a steady rotation, with batching, placement, and finishing carefully managed throughout the day.
“A single continuous pour gives Concord athletes a lasting foundation,” Eck says. “We’re proud to deliver on our promise — Trust. Well built. — and grateful to the district’s leaders for their confidence in us.”
Significant changes are underway at Jake Field, where a major renovation is transforming the facility into a multi-sport, multi-use hub for students and the community.
The centerpiece of the renovation is a new turf system that replicates the appearance of natural grass. Beneath the surface, drainage layers and a stone base will ensure the field remains playable even after heavy rain.
Adaptive Use for Sports, Students, and Special Events
Designed for versatility, the new field will carry permanent stripes for football and soccer, with color-coded markings to keep play clear for athletes and referees. Track and field competitors will also benefit from dedicated zones for long jump, high jump, discus, shot put, and pole vault, ensuring Concord can host meets and provide students with the opportunity to train at home.
Fans will enjoy expanded seating and a new concession building with restrooms, while athletes gain a dedicated team facility complete with lockers and training rooms.
The atmosphere is receiving an upgrade as well. Musco LED lighting and a new sound system will deliver energy-efficient visibility while adding celebratory displays synchronized with touchdowns, goals, and special events.
When it reopens for the 2026–27 academic year, Jake Field will serve as a central venue for athletes, students, families, and the broader Elkhart County community well into the future.
Weigand Construction has received the 5-Star AchieveWELL Designation, awarded by the Wellness Council of Indiana. The Wellness Council of Indiana is a 501(c)(3) organization and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce dedicated to improving workplace and community well-being in Indiana.
A Holsitic Approach
This designation establishes us as an organization that values employee health and well-being. Our goal is to foster a culture of wellness that takes the whole employee into consideration. Here are a few of the supports we offer in this endeavor:
Health Coaching and Classes
Mental Health and Nutrition Educational Resources
Workout Reimbursements
Fitness Activity and Exercise Challenges
Employee “Lunch and Learn” Sessions
We are excited to receive this designation and look forward to continue exploring new avenues to support our employees in their health and well-being journeys.
Nearly 50 clients, partners, and friends joined Weigand Construction’s South Bend team for a relaxed summer gathering on Thursday, June 26, at River St. Joe, an organic farmstead brewery located in Buchanan, Michigan, just a short drive from Weigand South Bend’s downtown office.
The venue provided an ideal setting for an event focused on connection, community, and shared purpose. “Events like this give us a chance to take a step back and celebrate the relationships that make our work meaningful,” said Aaron Holy, Weigand’s South Bend Director of Operations. “The gathering was all about our partners, clients, and friends. We wouldn’t be here today without their trust and collaboration.”
Guests, including school and municipal officials, architects, engineers, and business leaders, mingled under a spacious tent set among Flatwater Farms’ 180 acres of organic crops. River St. Joe is Michigan’s only farm-to-tap brewery, offering pale ales to non-alcoholic, hops-infused sparkling water: a refreshing choice on a humid night when temperatures climbed into the low 90s.
Celebrating Local Roots and Shared Values
Though the brewery is a relatively new addition to the region’s food and beverage scene, it has quickly established itself as a community-oriented venue. Its schedule features everything from yoga sessions and storytelling nights to homegrown music performances. This spirit of local pride and camaraderie infused Weigand’s gathering, creating an atmosphere that was both festive and purposeful.
“The work we do in northern Indiana and southern Michigan is diverse and focused on creating meaningful results,” said Jeremy Ringger, Weigand’s President, who spent the evening engaging with guests. “What distinguishes Weigand is our dedication to building with purpose and creating enduring partnerships.”
Over the past 20 years, Weigand Construction has made a significant impact across the South Bend region through projects that include schools, fire stations, hospitals, and civic centers. “Each project,” Holy said, “reflects the combined efforts of clients, architects, engineers, and construction teams working toward common goals.”
The open-air setting at River St. Joe showcased the collaborative spirit central to Weigand’s work. Surrounded by harvests of strawberries and green beans, the evening emphasized Weigand Construction’s dedication to creating spaces and building relationships that leave a lasting impact on the people they serve.
For more than a century, the Noble County Courthouse has marked Albion, Indiana as a historical pillar in both the town and the greater region. In April, county officials, community members, and key contributors dedicated the building, a milestone marking a new age as it stands to serve future generations throughout the county going forward.
After nearly 140 years of operation with only a handful of updates throughout its lifetime, the facility needed a structural overhaul to continue supporting the needs of the county circuit court while still meeting accessibility and safety requirements. Weigand Construction led the renovation effort as architect American Structurepoint concepted a refreshed space that honored the history of the courthouse and the community.
The Renovation Process
Revitalizing the Noble County Courthouse was a complex task that required a careful mix of gathering sufficient information, formulating an effective plan, and intentionally balancing resources to develop solutions as challenges arose.
Comprehensive refits were required throughout the facility, which necessitated both preserving the historical elements and repairing areas with sustained wear. An example of this was a lack of concrete slab present on the first floor while the surface of third story also needed replaced. To fix this, our team installed a concrete slab on the first floor and poured a special, lightweight mixture of concrete on the third story to reinforce the outdated flooring systems.
Other renovations involved processes such as:
Removing a large metal safe weighing several tons.
Building a specialized scaffolding system for transporting equipment and materials.
Retrofitting the existing elevator shaft to house a new one.
Safely removing asbestos and lead paint.
Undertaking a massive scope of plaster work throughout a significant chunk of the project.
Separating the HVAC unit into more than a dozen pieces to fit it through the doors and reassemble inside.
Successfully tearing down and replacing a load bearing wall with a structural support beam in the second-floor courtroom.
These improvements took an intense level of detailed coordination and focus to meet the required parameters of the job. The result was a 138-year-old courthouse being brought back into compliance with modern building standards and safety protocols, ensuring its ability to support Noble County Circuit Court activities for years to come.
A Moment Marking History
We’ve labeled this project as a renovation, which means to restore something to a former, better state. To breathe new life into it. But what has been done here at the Noble County Courthouse goes beyond a simple renovation. I think our local newspaper editor, Matt Getts, said it best: ‘this project has been nothing short of a rescue mission to preserve one of the most historic and significant structures in our county.'” – Zachary Smith, PE, Highway Director, Noble County
In recent years, Weigand Construction’s internship program has experienced significant growth, a byproduct of the company’s strategic focus on attracting young talent to our organization. By committing time and resources to students and recent graduates, Weigand has built a robust pipeline of promising professionals looking to make a mark in the industry.
From Students to Staff
The results from last year’s internship program demonstrated the impact of this investment, with 100% of our graduating seniors hired as full-time employees. WCI’s mentorship track continues developing in identifying and retaining top-tier professionals entering the construction workforce.
Class of 2025
This year, we are returning with the largest intern class to date, with 37 interns on-site at jobs across the Midwest. Under direct guidance from our trusted division leads, project managers, and associates working on the ground, our 2025 Summer intern class is learning key principles and gaining an inside perspective of construction, laying a strong foundation as they continue building their careers in the years ahead. We’re excited to see where they go in the coming months!
Plunging shovels into piles of soft earth, students, school administrators, builders, architects, and members of the Leo community marked the beginning of construction for a new fieldhouse coming to campus in 2026. With construction managed by WCI and design led by Garmann Miller on behalf of East Allen County Schools, this addition is just the first of many projects on the timeline for the district this year, as they look to maintain, renovate, and expand their diverse learning environments for current students and those to come.
Student Athletics Hub
The 34,000 square foot building will support multiple sports-related programs with spaces facilitating various activities:
3 Basketball Courts
Batting Cages
Wrestling Training Rooms
Track
Mezzanine
New Roads and Parking Access
Concessions Building
Vestibule
Retractable Bleachers
Educational Excellence
These features in the new fieldhouse serve to strengthen Leo Junior Senior High School’s athletic programming across several different sports. With the added space, school teams will no longer have to share the same areas to practice, streamlining schedules and simplifying logistics for students and parents. On top of improved coordination, the addition will also create an impact reaching past its physical attributes.
“…The true power of this project is not in the square footage or the programming. It’s in what this facility will do for the students, the staff, and the broader East Allen community. Inside these walls, young athletes will cultivate more than just growth in their skill and their strength. They’ll build confidence, character, and community. They’ll forge relationships, learn resilience, and discover how to compete with integrity.” – Larry Weigand, CEO, Weigand Construction
The sight lines are also aimed at higher than just sports. For East Allen County Schools, it’s a promise to continue promoting environments where students thrive.
“This groundbreaking isn’t just about laying the foundation for a building; it’s about the opportunities it will afford. And it will stand as a testament to our collective commitment to excellence in academics, athletics, and arts.” – Marilyn Hissong, Superintendent, EACS
On a gray April morning that gradually faded into spring sunshine, the Goshen community gathered at 1730 Regent Street to celebrate the grand opening of a long-anticipated project: a new baseball and softball complex. This event marked a significant milestone in the city’s commitment to youth athletics.
Nestled behind Prairie View Elementary on Goshen’s south side, the new complex is now the unified home for RedHawk baseball and softball. The facility features two synthetic turf fields, LED stadium lighting, covered dugouts, digital scoreboards, batting cages, and dedicated bullpens. A central building houses amenities like locker rooms, coaches’ offices, and a concession stand for players and fans in one location.
“This project came to life through the collective support of many in our community who believed in this vision,” said Goshen High School Principal Cathy DeMeyer. “We couldn’t be prouder to unveil this top-tier facility.”
Replacing Phend Field and the flood-prone diamond at Shanklin Park, the new complex feels more like a homecoming than a farewell. “The community made a conscious decision to bring baseball and softball together in one shared space,” noted Superintendent Jim DuBois. “That’s what led us to choose this site. And now, playing on these high-quality fields will only help our programs grow and thrive.”
RedHawks Take to the Field
The grand opening featured a RedHawk baseball doubleheader, starting with a dominant 13-run win over La Porte — their highest-scoring game of the season. Junior Bryson Wilson made a standout effort on the mound, pitching five solid innings and notching his first RBIs of the year at the plate.
On the adjacent softball field, the RedHawk girls took on Fairfield High School in a hard-fought game that ended in a 9–5 loss, but not without undeniable energy.
“Seeing our RedHawks step onto these fields is incredibly rewarding,” said Athletic Director Jim Pickard. “I’m grateful to everyone who played a role in bringing this vision to life.”
Building a New Legacy
Construction kicked off in June 2024, with Weigand leading the build. Karen Fisher of Barton Coe Vilamaa headed up the design team, while Andy Bearman and his crew at A&Z Engineering managed critical components like drainage, lighting, and grandstand infrastructure.
“Our priority was delivering a high-quality project,” said Brian Blight, Senior Project Manager at Weigand, “Staying on schedule was critical to ensure the teams were ready for the 2025 season.”
A two-month delay in permitting could have derailed the schedule, but the construction team, led by Blight, Superintendent RJ Eck, and Project Engineer Brandon Hartstein, made up for lost time. “Everyone pulled together and worked in the same direction to make it happen,” Blight said.
One of the complex’s standout features is its advanced drainage system. “Water drains so efficiently that within 15 minutes, you can be back on the field and barely know it rained,” Blight explained. “Short of severe weather, these fields are ready for play almost anytime.”
First Pitches from Goshen Leaders
Two well-known figures, Ken Mirer and Paula Meyers, threw the ceremonial first pitches. Mirer, a longtime Goshen coach who guided the baseball team to five straight sectional titles, a regional championship, and led the football team to two Indiana Class AA state titles, expressed his excitement about the new fields.
“This is unbelievable — it’s as well done as I could have imagined or hoped for,” he said. “There’s a lot of pride behind it.”
Meyers, a Goshen alumna and longtime school employee, has been an advocate for softball facility upgrades and was instrumental in bringing this project to life.
The new complex reflects a broader community investment. “It’s more than a field — it’s a symbol of equity, progress, and the value we place on giving our students the best,” DuBois said, “and the impact goes beyond high school athletics.”
Inspiring Student-Athletes
Already, the fields are slated to host IHSAA sectionals in softball (2025) and baseball (2026). Youth leagues and summer camps are also expected to use the complex, deepening Goshen’s role as a regional sports destination.
Student-athletes are noticing the difference. Olivia Garcia, a a junior who plays both JV and varsity softball, says the upgraded field has strengthened her team. “Having a new field has brought us closer together,” she said. “Being able to experience something new is a great opportunity that we’ve been given. It’s motivated us to give it our all.”
That kind of energy wasn’t always easy. “The old field had dips and mud,” Blight said. “It was tough to maintain, especially in the spring. Now, they have something on par with college programs.”
The complex also serves as a powerful reminder of Goshen’s enduring community spirit. “This is a tight-knit community,” Mirer said. “Back in the day, we’d pack the gym for every basketball game — about 4,000 people. And it wasn’t just families with kids playing; it was people who had played here themselves. That pride carries from one generation to the next. Goshen has always had tremendous community support, and that continues.”
Christ Chapel at Hillsdale College, located in south-central Michigan, is gaining national recognition for its classical beauty and the craftsmanship behind its construction.
Built by Weigand Construction, the chapel was awarded Best Brick & Stone Project at the 2025 International Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers (BAC)Craft Awards. This honor places Christ Chapel at the forefront of masonry craftsmanship, highlighting the enduring skills of BAC partners. (Weigand is a BAC signatory contractor, certified in specialized masonry work such as grouting and reinforced masonry.)
Construction of the chapel took place between 2017 and 2019, making it the first religious building of its size to be completed in the United States in over 70 years. The chapel boasts a striking 70-foot facade that leads into a sanctuary accommodating 1,350 worshippers beneath a 64-foot painted barrel ceiling. Eight Doric limestone columns support the entrance portico, while the altar is framed with elegant marble Corinthian detailing. The structure is crowned by a 32-foot self-supporting masonry dome, the largest built in over 50 years.
A Crowning Achievement
“The recognition feels like winning the Super Bowl for construction masons,” says architect Duncan Stroik, who designed the chapel in a Neoclassical style inspired by Christopher Wren and early American churches. Stroik is a founding professor at Notre Dame’s classical architecture program and has over 35 years of experience in practicing and teaching sacred architecture.
With its primary design motif being Doric and enhanced with Renaissance details, Christ Chapel remains rooted in tradition. This choice reflects a deliberate homage to the enduring legacy and spiritual significance of Western architecture.
Strong Legacy in Skilled Craftmanship
Since 1986, the BAC Craft Awards have highlighted outstanding craftsmanship and union service, showcasing not only technical excellence but also the cultural impact of construction artistry.
Christ Chapel is now among the distinguished recipients of this award — a place where liturgical beauty meets brick and mortar and where modern construction revives classical inspiration. Its significance extends beyond aesthetics; it serves as a beloved community landmark. “The chapel elevates the spirit,” Stroik says. “It gives form to faith.”
