Tag: Downtown Construction

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

CARR Workplaces Opens at Electric Works

Posted on December 13, 2022

Grow your business at your own pace with coworking spaces, executive suites, and conference spaces featuring a flexible lease concept

Just Arrived

With locations represented in major cities across the country like Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, D.C., San Fransico, and more, CARR Workplaces has now touched down in Fort Wayne! They’ve brought their innovative office spaces to Electric Works, with Weigand acting as the construction manager for renovations! They provide a plethora of affordable, flexible options that meet the needs of business individuals on the go!

From Old to New

Our construction teams worked around the clock to remove old material from the structure. They installed new metal paneling, drywall, interior and exterior storefronts, polished concrete floors, and a fresh coat of overhead paint to restore the space to its former glory! This once dilapidated building is ready to host visitors and locals alike for decades to come!

The Office Perks

At Electric Works, CARR maintains 32,000 square feet, 85 offices, and 3 meeting rooms. These rooms share the main floor and basement of The Forum. You will notice them as you walk through the entrance to access the rest of the campus. It is the perfect spot for any remote worker or self-starter who is looking for a change of scenery!

Visit the campus and see for yourself!

A Year-Round Street Market Comes to Downtown Fort Wayne

Posted on December 13, 2022

Fresh Market Goods

The Union Street Market is the spot for fresh, local food and more at Electric Works! With Weigand heading up restorations in this building, there are dozens of different merchants to choose from and plenty of options to try and love. Located in Buildings 20, 20A, and 22, Union Street Market is also the new home of the Fort Wayne Farmer’s Market. You can enjoy artisan meals during the week and get fresh picks of produce on the weekends! Vendors are being added all the time, so be sure to visit and see what’s new!

Looking Back

Long before they were the site of the street market, Buildings 20, 20A, and 22 were the headquarters for maintenance, the phone department, the carpenter shop, and 10,000 IEUA transformer production. Each of these structures houses decades of history:

Building 20 was raised in 1907
Building 20A came in 1941
Building 22 first opened in 1917

This combination of shops, assembly lines, and storage space adds together a total of 44,328 square feet! That’s bigger than nine basketball courts grouped together!

How it all Came Together

Our construction teams took special care to ensure that everything was ready for opening day. Here are a few of the restorations that they made:

Installed new flights of stairs
Secured corrugated metal paneling
Built out restrooms and other amenities
Poured and polished new concrete flooring
Assembled new kitchens, storefronts, and countertops

By taking these steps, our crews completed renovation of the three buildings right on schedule! They took a section of structures over one hundred years old and turned it into a new place for the community to gather and thrive!

A Landmark Built to Serve Generations – Electric Works Opens to the Public

Posted on December 13, 2022

An Excerpt from Our December 2022 Newsletter

As we have secured our Certificate of Occupancy permits for over 700,000 square-feet of core and shell construction and are starting to move-in tenants like Do It Best, Medical Informatics, BSW Work Ready, Parkview, Carr Co-working, and Ferguson Advertising at Electric Works, I can’t help but think about the tremendous impact that this project has already had on our company, our community, and how it will affect the region well into the future.

Through historic preservation, a mix of uses, and full-time active program management, Electric Works created an atmosphere where talent and businesses want to locate, stay, and grow. This environment, unique in the Midwest and the nation, is why EW is projecting over 1600 new and retained jobs in the first two phases.

I am proud to say that over 90% of this project was performed by specialty contractors, vendors, suppliers, architects, engineers, consultants, and of course the hardworking tradesmen and tradeswomen from our Fort Wayne and surrounding communities. This represented 3,637 jobs during construction and the payroll to go along with it. The direct and indirect financial impact was $463 Million during construction and will be $548 Million annually. It is such a win for us locally knowing all these dollars stayed in our community and will be reinvested in some way.

The campus will be a vibrant part of our downtown with innovation space, office space, retail, Union Street Market with over twenty-five food vendors, restaurants/brewery, live entertainment and much more. I am so proud that our company was an integral part of the success of this redevelopment project because it is truly a “Landmark that will impact the lives and communities we serve.”

Larry Weigand
Owner and CEO