Archives: Projects

Weigand Construction projects

Fairfield Community Schools | Falcons Fieldhouse & Auditorium Renovation

Posted on November 21, 2025

Nested in the campus of Fairfield Jr./Sr. High School, the Falcons Fieldhouse, located off of U.S. Highway 33 in Goshen, Indiana, is one of multiple construction projects streamlining operations and improving the student experience at Fairfield Community Schools. Part of a larger undertaking, which also includes a comprehensive renovation of the existing high school auditorium and entrance, the entire project was designed by Garmann Miller, with Weigand Construction managing the building phase and redevelopment.

Significant Athletic Addition

The fieldhouse was constructed with the intent of creating additional space for sporting events, practices, and extracurricular activities that weren’t feasible prior. It features:

Gymnasium with Three Basketball/Volleyball Courts
Three-Lane 50 Meter Sprint Track
Bleachers Seating 640 Spectators
Lobby/Commons Area
Team Store
Concessions Stand
Locker Rooms
Mezzanine Overlooking Lobby and Gymnasium
Scoreboards
Batting Cage
Golf Simulator
Storage Space

These features supply needed infrastructure to Fairfield’s athletics programming. With added gymnasium space and new training resources, basketball, volleyball, tennis, and track teams can now conduct practice indoors when weather conditions are unfavorable.

Pulling Back the Curtain

In addition to the new fieldhouse, Weigand Construction also performed an exhaustive renovation of the high school’s auditorium. This involved a redesign of the entrance, lobby, and theatre. The entrance received a completely redeveloped façade, outer door, vestibule, and new signage that matches district branding. Custom outdoor seats in the shape of the school logo are positioned on either side in front of the main doors, along with decorative landscaping and a new concrete slab. The reworked lobby has new flooring, a ticket booth, updated light fixtures, open seating areas, school lettering and colors throughout, and two sets of large double doors leading straight into the auditorium. The theatre features:

3 Seating Columns with 685 Total Chairs
Main Stage and Backstage Area
Orchestra Pit
Auditorium and Stage Lighting System
Second-Story Production Booth

This dramatic conversion of the existing theatre significantly upgraded equipment, stage space, and seating. The auditorium now supports stage productions, school assemblies, celebrations, meetings, and public events at a scale not achievable initially.

Facilities Befitting the Falcons

This set of projects is a major investment in Fairfield Community Schools, promoting the academic, athletic, and creative growth of the student body. The Falcons Fieldhouse elevates the game-day experience while the newly improved auditorium brings students’ artistic development center stage. The district is well positioned to enrich its learning pathways through premier spaces that advance both athletics and the arts.

Uncover the Full Story on our News Blog

Nappanee Fire Station 1

Posted on October 30, 2025

A project that took nearly a decade to fully realize, Nappanee Fire Station 1 is the fruit of a labor of love for the city and its surrounding communities. First envisioned by Fire Chief Don Lehman, former EMS Chief Jim Sumpter, and Mayor Phil Jenkins, the trio would spend eight years conducting research and visiting fire departments across northeast Indiana for inspiration to craft a modernized station of their own. In operation for 55 years, the department’s existing facility no longer met the needs of its growing team of fire and EMS first responders. The city employed the help of K2M Design, DS Architects, and Weigand Construction to shape a new fire station that would support its operations for years into the future. It features:

Eight Dormitories
Kitchen
Day Room
Fitness Center
Decontamination Room
Gear Storage
Administrative Wing
Training Room

Protecting First Responder Health

Prolonged carcinogen exposure is a risk that people in the fire service actively take on in their occupation, which can lead to cancer in many cases without proper intervention. Thanks to logistical and mechanical improvements made with Fire Station 1, a comprehensive exhaust extraction system covers the apparatus bays along with designated “hot,” “warm,” and “cold” zones. This layout allows harmful chemical and diesel fumes that often cover equipment, clothing, and vehicles after a fire call to safely off-gas through a separate ventilation network, reducing contact and preventing contamination in the living quarters.

Uniting Service Teams

Previously, EMS team members had to stay in a separate house and walk to the fire department in order to access their vehicles and equipment when responding to a call. Planned as a central service station, the facility is outfitted with space to support all first responder crews, making it safer and easier to prepare for emergencies at a minute’s notice.

“Some have been waiting 22 years, as promised, for a facility they can now call home…Full-time responders work 24- or 48-hour shifts, spending one-third of their lives here. This is not only a fire station – it’s a firehouse.” – Don Lehman, Fire Chief, Nappanee Fire Department

The “Foo” Fighter Mascot

Fire Station 1 also pays homage to beloved cartoonist Bill Holman, a Nappanee native who created the classic Smokey Stover comic strip series featured in the Chicago Tribune. The building has several references to Smokey throughout, including a large wall graphic in one of the conference rooms, a real-life version of Smokey’s famous “Foomobile” in the lobby, and depictions of the character in the Nappanee Fire Department’s logo, which is seen facing the front the exterior tower as well as inside near the apparatus bay doors.

A New Chapter

The host of features and improvements in Fire Station 1 position the Nappanee Fire Department to offer faster response times, provide safer environments for crew members, and sustain stronger operational capacity. WCI is proud to have served as a partner in making this facility, which directly impacts so many lives and communities across Nappanee, a reality.

DeKalb Central County United School District | Addition and Renovation

Posted on October 24, 2025

Students at DeKalb Central in grades 6-12 are have access to improved sports, music, science, and Career and Technical Education (CTE) facilities thanks to a comprehensive overhaul specific areas throughout the campus. Designed by architect Garmann Miller and built by WCI, this addition and renovation addressed a broad scope of needs that will stand to serve learners and educators alike well into the future.

Cross-Campus Development

In the high school, interior redevelopments were performed in two key areas:

The AG Shop
The Strength and Conditioning Room

In the shop, the redesigned space made way for new workstations and tool storage for various learning programs. The weight room got a significant upgrade with garage doors for easy access and airflow, as well as updated flooring surfaces to support weight racks, bench presses, and other gym equipment. Outside, the existing grass football field was removed and replaced with synthetic turf; the track encircling it was also resurfaced. Other additions included:

A New Digital Scoreboard
Tennis Complex with 10 Courts and Fencing
Dedicated Locations for Track Events such as Long Jump, High Jump, and Pole Vault

At the middle school, a semi-translucent entry canopy was constructed, modernizing the main entrance of the building while paying homage to the district theme by including Barons’ colors and signage. This also features a newly poured concrete pad, outdoor seating, and garden beds. Inside, the cafeteria, hallways, lockers, band room, science classroom, and assembly area received new flooring, paint, HVAC system, and lighting.

Semester Ready

“Some of the unique challenges that public schools have is the time frame in which the projects can be done. So whether it comes to the renovation of the middle school that obviously can’t be done when kids are in school. To have only the months of June and July to get a lot of that work done is extremely difficult.” – Steven Snider, former CFO, DeKalb Central Schools

Due to limited time with full access to the campus, Weigand approached this project with a deliberate, compressed schedule in order to complete the proposed scope of work in about two months. This required extreme coordination with suppliers, subcontractors, and WCI’s own workforce to ensure that each sequence of the job was properly delivered in the timeframes allotted throughout the summer months. This allowed teachers and administrators to move back into the space when construction finished without any disruption to the beginning of the fall semester. We’re proud to have partnered with DeKalb Central Schools make this project a reality and approach it in a way that best served their needs and timeline goals.

Dekalb Eastern | The Aaron Willard Student Activity Center

Posted on September 15, 2025

The Aaron Willard Student Activity Center is both a significant campus addition aimed at enhancing student athletics and a tribute to the lasting impact of longtime educator and alumnus Aaron Willard. A former student, teacher, assistant principal, coach, and athletic director, Willard has served the Dekalb Eastern Community School District for 36 years before retiring in 2025. Willard left a profound mark on the Blazers community, with decorated coaching legacy, leading the baseball, softball, and basketball teams to a total of 700+ victories across the course of his career.

“It’s really humbling and very much an honor to have my name on the building…it’s an awesome facility and it’ll serve our students very well.” – Aaron Willard, Former Student Supervisor, Teacher, Coach, and Athletic Director, Dekalb Eastern Community School District

Improving Experiences in Sports

The new student activity center is 30,000 square feet of new construction designed by Barton Coe Vilamaa and built by Weigand. It includes:

IHSAA Rated Competition Court for Basketball and Volleyball
8 Retractable Basketball Hoops
2 Drop-Down Mesh Batting Cages
Weight Room
3 Lane Running Track
Bleachers Seating up to 900 People
Locker Rooms
Support Spaces
Offices

These features allow for multiple sports teams to share the space, conducting practices or workouts at the same time without interrupting one another. It will also create opportunities for conditioning in the offseason when weather is unsuitable for outdoor training. The facility can be sectioned off into partitions, making it possible for several extracurricular groups to meet and conduct their various activities all at once. On top of this, the building is connected directly to the existing campus, providing a safe and simple pathway for students to access the activity center.

Building Blazers Up

We’re thankful for the chance to partner with the Dekalb Eastern community in Butler, Indiana in successfully delivering the Aaron Willard Student Activity Center. Not only does operate as a place for students to grow, connect, and better themselves, but it also stands as a lasting memory of a leader who committed his life and career to enriching the lives of high schoolers through sports, teamwork, and grit.

Carroll High School | Addition and Renovation

Posted on September 15, 2025

Planned to meet future needs with an ever-expanding student population, additions and renovations to Carroll High School’s existing campus are bringing greater quality of life to the everyday learning experiences for Chargers and educators alike. Designed by Barton Coe Vilamaa and built by Weigand, the project features new construction in the east, north, and south sections of campus.

East Classroom Expansion

A diverse set of classroom buildouts are now available including:

2 Applied Skills Rooms
Science and Digital Design Rooms
8 General Education Rooms
Credit Recovery Room

This expansion incorporates classrooms and spaces that support dynamic teaching environments for students as they pursue their academic goals, bringing 27 supplementary rooms in total across the entire project. It also features a bus loop for ease of access into the building.

North Corridor

Developments in the northern section feature:

A connecting hallway joining the west and east academic areas.
An upgraded Weight Room with a 50% capacity increase and space for up to 144 student athletes at one time.
An additional General Education Classroom.

Southern Access Point

A new student entrance now sits on the south side of the campus giving high schoolers a direct path to reach the Media Center. The 9,000 square-foot space has a library with spacious open seating, a café, 5 small study areas, and two conference rooms. The cafeteria is 30% larger with 4,000 square-feet of extra room, providing students with a sprawling area full of natural lighting where they gather, eat, and connect during the lunch period.

A Blueprint for the Future

This mix of new construction and redevelopment marks a significant next step securing the future for upcoming Chargers. The resources and room provided by the addition and expansion project provides support for another 500 students on campus.

Concord Community Schools | Engineering and Construction Center

Posted on May 23, 2025

Facing a rising influx of students enrolling in trade programs, Concord Community School’s employed Weigand’s Construction Management services to build a brand-new trade school facility. This $3.9 million, 10,400 square foot education center houses additional students, resources, and space for each trade discipline offering.

Trades, Robotics, Manufacturing, and More

Sitting on the east end of Concord’s sprawling campus located at 59040 Minuteman Way, Elkhart, IN, the complex features various spaces designed to support classes such as:

Civil Engineering
Architectural Engineering
Manufacturing
Robotics
Design and Innovation
Construction Trades

Students learn direct application of these subjects in real time through classrooms equipped with the latest technology and training instruments.

Forecasting Workforce Gaps

With a rising need for people well-versed in trades of all types across the nation, the Engineering and Construction Center not only benefits the individual careers of students that pass through its halls but also creates candidates for all kinds of industries requiring the skill and expertise of well-educated workers. This has a direct, positive impact on learners’ careers, the community, and the economy as a whole.

Watch another Concord Community Schools Project in Progress Here

Steuben County Judicial Center

Posted on May 20, 2025

The first new judicial system construction in over 150 years, the Steuben County Judicial Center is a testament to the community’s commitment to investing in its future. Built by Weigand Construction and designed by RQAW Architecture, it replaces the Steuben County Annex, which, being built in 1867, became increasingly outdated and unable to meet new municipal building accessibility requirements.

County Justice Hub

Located on 305 S. Martha Street, Angola, IN, the three story + partial basement structure provides new amenities and more space:

3 Courtrooms
Administrative Suite
Law Library
Conference Room
Holding Cells
County Judicial Department Offices

Due to a significant increase in square footage, Steuben County’s justice system now houses most of its public offices in a single building. All but the Sheriff’s Department transferred. Some additional offices such as the Clerk of Courts, Probation Department, and the Steuben County Prosecuting Attorney also made the move.

Tuned for Efficiency

Despite the challenges that come with construction during the winter months, our team completed 210 consecutive days of project operations, putting us through 30% the schedule. Steel erection was completed in just 2.5 weeks, paving the way for preparations on the first-floor slab deck like stairs, decking, detailing, and welding. Beginning the job in the basement, crews spent weeks safely excavating soil and creating the bottom level of the structure.

The project phase concluded with a well-executed, 9,700 square foot concrete slab pour. From here, crews began work setting the foundation for the building’s first floor. These individual milestones created a base for pillars, steel framing, and the remainder of construction to close out safely and efficiently.

See the Project Built From Start to Finish

Hillsdale College | Sajak Visual Media Center

Posted on May 20, 2025

Named after the project’s primary donor, Pat Sajak, the former Wheel of Fortune Host and current Hillsdale Board of Trustees Chairman, the Sajak Visual Media Center is a studio designed to support Hillsdale’s wide array of video productions.

Prior to addition of this facility, the Hillsdale Media Team shot their marketing and educational content in a studio located in the Knorr Student Center basement. As operations expanded, their output quickly outgrew the studio, creating a mounting need for a new filming space.

A New Production Standard

With Weigand Construction serving as the construction manager on this project, The Sajak Visual Media Center was conceptualized to help not only meet the Hillsdale Media Team’s immediate needs but also support their growth going forward into the future with features like:

State-of-the-Art Soundproofing
Sprawling Studio with Space to Hold 5 Filming Sets
Green Room
Makeup Room

In addition to creating more space and improving video production, the building is also a place where media students receive hands-on experience on a professional set.

Resourcing High-Quality Education

This structure does more than just provide a better place to film. It strengthens the university’s deep library of online education courses accessed by millions of learners throughout the country. With the successful completion of the Sajak Visual Media Center, Hillsdale College is prepared to continue supporting the expansion of its legacy educational content well into the future.

Bridge of Grace Ministries | Early Years Academy

Posted on May 16, 2025

For years, Bridge of Grace ministries has poured time, passion, and resources into underserved individuals, homes, and communities in Fort Wayne, IN. Located in the Southeast region, the most underserved area of the city, the team at Bridge of Grace saw an opportunity to bring much needed assistance programming, education, and healthcare solutions to the locale with the addition of a new facility. Built by Weigand Construction with architecture by Design Collaborative, the structure delivers on serving a range of functions based on the needs within the community.

Watch the Ribbon Cutting

Providing a Healthy Start

The Early Years Academy supports growth and development for children between the infant and preschool ages. Covering much of the facility’s square footage, the preschool features:

Infant Rooms
Toddler Rooms
Preschooler Wing
Outdoor Play Areas
Indoor Play Space
Staff Lounge
Conference Space
Multipurpose Room
Kitchens

“We believe in natural wonder and fostering curiosity to provide a child centered learning experience. We believe children are precious and unique individuals.”- Early Years Academy, Westminster Preschool

Administrative Wing

Bridge of Grace offices are set to equip employees for their everyday workloads with:

Conference Rooms
Cafe Area
Office Suites
Cubicle Layouts

Professional Healthcare Services

The Alliance Health Clinic is a special healthcare center built to provide healthcare for those in the community regardless of financial challenges, complete with:

Therapist Office
Exam Rooms
Administrative Space
Lobby
Nurse Station

For a Greater Purpose

This project positions the ministry to continue investing in Southeast Fort Wayne for the forseeable future. With a new space to foster revitalization and growth in a historically overlooked and underserved area of the city, Bridge of Grace Ministries has the resources to keep serving and breathing life into neighborhoods in need.

“Seventeen years ago, God decided to change this community, and what a privilege to be part of the change and the transformation that is happening here in the Mount Vernon Park [Neighborhood] and Southeast Fort Wayne.”- Javier Mondragon, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Bridge of Grace Ministries

Humane Fort Wayne | Sharen Bodenhafer Critter Center

Posted on May 13, 2025

Constructed to expand operations beyond the capacity of its locations on Hanna Street and Maycrest Drive, Humane Fort Wayne’s Sharen Bodenhafer Critter Center sits on 901 Leesburg Road. concepted by architect Design Collaborative and built by Weigand Construction, the Critter Center is the home of the organization’s shelter and wellness clinic.

Increased Capacity

Sitting at 25,600 square feet, the new facility features:

Dog Kennels with Open Air Access
Cat Colonies with Large Windows
Outdoor Play Areas
Walking Trail
Lobby
Community Education Center
Training Spaces
Animal Wellness Clinic

With additional space and resources available through the Critter Center, the team at Humane Fort Wayne can shelter more animals and offer more services for the community.

“The truth is this is going to help us unleash love on this community by way of helping homeless pets find forever homes and by providing spay/neuter services and wellness services for more than 30,000 animals in this community every year.” – Jessica Henry-Johnson, Executive Director, Humane Fort Wayne

A Place for Furry Friends

For 70 years, Humane Fort Wayne has operated in Northeast Indiana, facilitating animal adoptions, educational resources, pet food pantries, assistance programming, and affordable clinical services. The Sharen Bodenhafer Critter Center, a vision more than five years in the making, is helping animals thrive within its walls while connecting them to their furever homes throughout the region.

Watch the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony