Purdue Fort Wayne: Surack-Sweetwater Music Industry Building

Designed to expand Purdue University's music education offerings for their Fort Wayne site, the Surack-Sweetwater Music Industry Building provides a state-of-the-art learning experience for aspiring artists, musicians, and producers. Connected to the existing Rhinehart Music Center, located in the heart of PFW's campus, this most recent university addition sits at 26,000sf and features:

Studios Control Rooms Editing Suites Audio Lab Class Space Rehearsal Halls Offices Conference Room

Outfitted with some of the most advanced audio equipment available, the facility houses some truly rare studio setups, including a Neve 88RS console whose configuration has only previously been produced one other time, located in the iconic Abbey Road Studios in London, UK. The time and investment placed in the host of specialized recording instruments goes back to providing students with hands-on access to tools they wouldn't otherwise have opportunities to use in any other environment.

Orchestrating the Build Process

Staging for this new building was no simple task. The jobsite was located in the middle of the campus with no adjacent roadway, creating limited access for personnel, equipment, and material deliveries. To maintain progress, our project team developed a temporary access road using stone and timber mats while carefully coordinating sound isolation systems, specialty finishes, owner-furnished equipment, and extensive low-voltage, electrical, blocking, and specialty rough-in requirements. Through detailed sequencing and collaboration between trades, WCI completed the planned summer renovation without disrupting classes or staff operations while coordinating owner contractors and ensuring framing, power, blocking, and rough-ins were ready for installation.

A City on the Map

From the beginning, the Surack-Sweetwater Music Industry Building was planned as a vital step in making the city a true music destination in its own right.

"Purdue Fort Wayne has an important role to play in developing the talent that will help [Fort Wayne] thrive," says PFW Chancellor Ron Elsenbaumer, "Together we can strengthen our local workforce, create new opportunities, and support Fort Wayne's ambition to become one of the top ten music cities in the nation."

Weigand served alongside architecture partner Design Collaborative in making this facility a reality. Today, the space helps students refine their talents, build on their passions, and broaden their horizons by exploring the possibilities within the world of music and sound.

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