Category: Weigand News

3 Powerful Takeaways from 2023

Canterbury Kindergarten Tour

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!

CS

Chris Sosebee

Director of Business Development


Parkview Southwest, New Outpatient Center Arrives in Fort Wayne

Cutting the Ribbon 

Midwest Healthcare

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 

Indiana Healthcare Services

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 

Patient Experience

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! 


Parkview Health
Midwest Healthcare
Indiana Healthcare
Hospital Design
Chandelier
Midwest Hospital
Indiana Hospital
Midwest Healthcare Campus
Healthcare Technology
Medical Clinic Patient Rooms
Medical Clinic Layout

8 New Features at the Mercer Health Ohio MOB

Mercer Health Maria Stein MOB

Patient Ready  

Mercer Health staff and the Marion community gathered to celebrate the completion and opening of the new Marion Campus. Along with the grand opening, there were also guided tours of the building and a “shop local” event for surrounding businesses like Moeller Brew Barn, Winans Coffee and Chocolate, The Edge Sports Complex, and IOS. 

Replacing the existing office off Marion Drive, this facility is now located on Booster Drive at Marion Industrial Park. The additional office space supports more practitioners in a medical office building, resulting in a great expansion of Mercer Health’s medical care services to the communities they serve in Ohio. 

Final Progress Update

Take look at this video from November covering the campus and some finishing touches before the opening:

Service Improvements 

Ohio Healthcare Contractor

This 19,600sf structure is equipped with: 

  • Administration Space 
  • Medical Exam Rooms 
  • Nursing Stations 
  • Beautiful Lobby/Waiting Area 
  • Staff Lounges 
  • Procedure Rooms 
  • Multipurpose Community Space 
  • Spacious Parking Lot 
  • And more 

These features give the $7.8M development more capacity for physicians, medical staff, and practitioners to increase patient treatment throughout the community.  

Being a Good Neighbor 

Ohio Medical Office Building

“We are excited to enhance health care services in the Marion community. At Mercer Health we often talk about caring for our friends, family and neighbors. This isn’t just something we say, it is a promise. It is truly our mission, an honor we don’t take lightly, to care for our community.”

Mindy Kremer, Vice President of Development, Marketing, and Communications, Mercer Health 

We are thankful for the opportunity to work alongside Mercer Health to construct a medical office building that fits their vision and purpose. We look forward to seeing friends, families, and neighbors of Maria Stein benefit from high quality healthcare in the years to come. 


New Beginnings as School Year Kicks Off!

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

Diane Woodworth

Business Development Education Specialist


Another Downtown “Gem” Tops Out

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. 

The crew building The Pearl

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 signing the beam
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
Larry Weigand at the podium
The signal to raise the beam is given
The crew looks on as the ceremony commences
The final beam getting lowered
The crew listens during the ceremony

Princess City Fire Station Breaks Ground

Construction Kicks Off in Mishawaka

Weigand team and others breaking ground

Building is officially underway at the future site of Mishawaka Fire Station #2! Set to replace the current Fire Station #2, the upcoming facility will span 23,000 square feet. This expanded space will accommodate twice the number of crew members, feature a versatile training area that doubles as a public meeting space, provide ample room for future staff expansion, and will also be the first station in the region with separate living quarters for female firefighters.

Mayor Wood and Fire Chief Speaking

Additional Features:

  • 12 Individual Dorm Rooms
  • 6 Individual Restrooms
  • 5 Apparatus Bays
  • Occupancy for up to 36 Firefighters

This station holds the promise of enhancing fire crews’ living conditions, fostering greater community engagement, and amplifying the fire department’s capabilities and operational prowess in the region.

Standing in the Gap

The ability to reside in quarters that brings a more private atmosphere at the station creates opportunity for more time with family, which is the backbone of support for men and women serving on the force.

Mayor Wood and Mishawaka Fire Department breaking ground

“Your home family’s the big rock in your life and the most important thing ever. So, we want them to have their wives, kids, moms, dads, grandmas, and grandpas to come see our firefighters at work and be proud of what they do.” – Bryon Woodward, Chief, Mishawaka Fire Department

However, this endeavor will not only improve living conditions for fire teams and their families. It will also strengthen the ability to respond to emergencies throughout the region.

“The need for this investment is being driven by the significant increases in calls for service. The Mishawaka Fire Department reached a new yearly milestone in 2022 by responding to 10,686 calls for service (an overall 11% increase) that included 21,660 total apparatus responses in 2022. This means the department receives, on average, 1.2 calls for service every hour. The greatest number of calls for service continues to be for emergency medical service (EMS) responses. Our ambulances and fire trucks responded to 8,098 (10% increase) calls that required medical care. Mayor Wood indicated ‘This is a significant investment in Mishawaka that will provide increased capabilities for public safety for generations to come’.”

City of Mishawaka

We take immense pride in our partnership with Mishawaka, as our dedicated South Bend Team works diligently to breathe life into this remarkable project.


Mayor Wood and Fire Chief Speaking
Fire teams breaking ground
The groundbreaking site
Mishawaka Fire Station #2 team members
Mayor Dave Wood sharing his thoughts on the new fire station construction
The groundbreaking site with helmets and shovels

5 Features of the New Muncie YMCA

New Beginnings 

YMCA team breaking ground.

This July, Muncie residents, community leaders, and YMCA staff came together, tossing dirt in the air to signal the start of construction for their new YMCA Facility. For years, Muncie has had two YMCA sites. One is downtown and the other is in the northwest region. However, the groundbreaking doesn’t just mark a new beginning for the YMCA. It also means new opportunities for the McKinley neighborhood, where the jobsite is located. To strengthen support and resources in McKinley, the city is also drawing up plans to build new housing units and townhomes. 

Features 

The new structure will be 73,000 square feet when completed and will have amenities such as: 

  1.  A Community Health Clinic 
  1. An Aquatics Center with two pools to be shared with the local high school 
  1. Weight Room 
  1. Exercise Equipment 
  1. Gymnasium 
  1. And More! 

By the Numbers 

Currently, the cost of the new YMCA is set at $31M. Through generous funding from multiple beneficiaries and $1 donation matches, about $29.6M has been raised to push the project forward. The YMCA of Muncie is optimistic that they can pull together the remaining funding with the help of the community. 

Board VP - Keith O'Neil speaking about the new YMCA.

“We still have fundraising work to do, approximately $1.4M left to go to reach our goal, and we’re hopeful that our community will continue to rally around this effort and the transformational change that will happen because of it and support this financially to bring it across the finish line.” -Chad Zaucha, President and CEO, YMCA of Muncie 

Working as a Team 

Organizations like Muncie Community Schools, Muncie Career Center, IU Health, Open Door Health, and The Healthy Lifestyle Center of Ball State are uniting their efforts on this project. For this group, it’s not just about the construction, but also setting up the new YMCA to support community programming for years to come. 

Neil (Project Manager) and Kreighton (Project Engineer) carry a sign with a rendering of the YMCA of Muncie.

“Collaboration, of course, is the biggest deal. If we can work together, then the beneficiaries are the kids, the families, and the community.” – Keith O’Neal, Board VP, Muncie Community Schools 

There’s a bright future ahead for everyone here in Muncie, and we’re proud to play a part in bringing this facility to the city! 


YMCA President and CEO Chad Zaucha sharing some thoughts regarding the project.
Weigand crew with the shovels.
Larry Weigand giving a speech to event attendees.
Attendees posing with Weigand hardhats and shovels at the groundbreaking site.
A row of dirt with Weigand hardhats and shovels.
Ceremony tent.
Event attendees listening to the speakers.
Rendering of the YMCA when it's finished.
Bird's eye view of the tent.

Fine Arts Facility Tops Out at Canterbury

Larry Speaking

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: 

Attendees
  • 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 

David Speaking

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!  


Crane and Beam
David Speaking
Workers guiding the crane
Students and faculty watching the ceremony
Attendees
Crane lifting beam
Worker tightening the final beam in place in the frame
Seating Area
Workers removing the cables from the beam

Field of Dreams Made Real

The Tradition Continues

Wa-Nee

Students, athletes, parents, teachers, and school administrators gathered at Northwood Highschool to cut the ribbon to the new Baseball and Softball Complex! With four beautiful diamonds spanning the edges of the grounds, Northwood’s baseball and softball players continue the school’s legacy in both sports at its own state-of-the-art facility.  

A Breath of Fresh Air

Wa-Nee

The complex is a timely update from Northwood’s older field. Coming in at just over 50 years, the original baseball facility could no longer meet the growing needs of the school’s athletics program. The replacement brings several features that enhance the experience for both players and spectators alike. The new ballpark has four diamonds, two dedicated to baseball and two to softball for junior varsity and varsity level games. Along with seating sections for each diamond, the fields feature dugouts, press boxes, ticket-booths, warm-up areas, and backstops. In the center of the complex is a concession stand and restrooms. 

The turf fields allow for easier maintenance, making the upkeep of the entire facility more sustainable. Not only that, but the complex brings softball onto the Northwoods Highschool grounds. Until now, the softball team had to utilize an off-campus field for all their games. This project also includes new access points, which make it easier for students and their families to get in and out of the complex by road or on foot. 

How It was Made

Field of Dreams in Progress

Built through the CMc method (Construction Manager as Constructor) by our South Bend team, project management got involved early in the planning process. This created space to identify potential issues before they surfaced. It also allowed our team to offer input with the design and budget to help improve build quality, pricing, and construction timeline. 

 “We worked with the architect and the school to put budgets to their design and help work through value engineering within the confines of the budget that they knew they had allocated for the full project.” – Aaron Holy, Director of Operations, Weigand South Bend 

A Dream Come True

Wa-Nee

Getting this “Field of Dreams” has been a huge milestone for both the administration and the athletics department at Wa-Nee. Through the generous donation of a previous player, the school system funded this project.

“It’s going to be a great opportunity for our kids to have a beautiful sports complex [with] Baseball, Softball, JV, and Varsity all in one location…A great, great benefit to our kids and to our athletic teams…just very excited for the future.”

Dr. Scot Croner, Wa-Nee Community Schools 

Wa-Nee
Wa-Nee
Wa-Nee
Wa-Nee
Field of Dreams in Progress

Noble County Wins Big at the APWA’s

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.