Tag: Education Construction

Exciting Addition to Knights Campus

Norwell Middle School

Ready for Fall 

Speech

The Norwell community was elated as we celebrated the opening of their new middle school building. Joined by project partners Schmidt Architects, ERI, and Weigand Construction, Superintendent Mike Springer noted that collaboration helped to bring this project together. Not only so, but our team delivered this building more than a month ahead of schedule. This ensured that faculty and staff would have ample time to transfer their offices and arrange their classrooms well before the start of the fall semester. 

Students Welcome 

The new two-floor, 160,000 square foot middle school building is fitted to help meet current and future space needs as its student influx grows with features such as: 

  • Media Center 
  • Band and Choir Rooms 
  • Art Classrooms 
  • Commons Spaces 
  • Science Classrooms 
  • Multipurpose Rooms 
  • Resource Rooms 
  • Intense Intervention Classrooms 
  • Sensory Room 
  • Skills Development  
Ribbon Cutting
  • Dedicated Alternative School Space 
  • Office Wing 
  • And More 

This project also included some new additions and renovations to the existing baseball and football fields on the campus sports complex. These included: 

  • Steel Archway Entrance 
  • Football Building with Concessions, Bathrooms, and Ticket Booth 
  • Baseball Building with Concessions, Bathrooms, and Ticket Booth 
Building Tours

These features set Norwell Middle School up for success with future education programs, student learning experiences, and improved daily operations. Prepared to address a wide range of needs both academic and athletic, students and faculty can now enjoy the many benefits that their brand-new facility offers. 

Proud Partner 

We’re excited to have played a role in taking this amazing project from a blueprint to real bricks and mortar. Our team is currently hard at work on Phase II of this project, which will involve demolition and renovation of the old middle school building.  


Front Door
Commons Space
Classroom II
Main Office
Baseball II
Band/Orchestra Room
Baseball Building
Football Building II
Baseball Building III
Baseball Building IV
Entry Way
Media Center
Meeting Space
Classroom
Media Center II
Football Entryway
Classroom III
Hallway
Norwell Middle School II

Upcoming Music Project Name Revealed

Groundbreaking

A Song not yet Written 

Attendents

A sound of hope and anticipation echoed through many in the Purdue Fort Wayne community as they witnessed the official construction kickoff for their new music center addition. The Surack-Sweetwater Music Industry Building, whose name was unveiled at the ceremony, is the fulfillment of a vision first set in 2018 when the School of Music first opened at PFW. 

A Best-in-Class Facility 

Shovels

The Surack-Sweetwater Music Industry Building will act as an addition to the Rhinehart Music Center, providing more studio, rehearsal, and classroom space with a focus on recording, mixing, and mastering music. The $25M, 26,000 square foot building will have: 

  • Two Studios 
  • Rehearsal Rooms 
  • Storage Spaces 
  • Equipment Checkout 
  • Editing Rooms 
  • Classrooms 
  • Office and Conference Space 
  • Tracking Room 
  • Isolation Rooms 
  • And More 

Sporting a modern, sleek design that still captures the overall look and feel of PFW’s larger campus, students will have access to industry-level technology, helping fine tune their sound as they learn to produce professional audio. 

Made Possible Through Donors 

Ceremony Mingling

This project moved forward through the coordinated efforts of contributors such as the Auer Foundation and the Surack Family, as well as many private donors. The Indiana General Assembly also played a role in securing funding by apportioning their budget to offset a large portion of the construction cost.  

Construction Phase Now Online 

We are excited to begin building this incredible new addition to the PFW Music Center. We’re humbled to have the opportunity to once again partner with PFW and Design Collaborative on this amazing project for the benefit of students, faculty, and the music industry in Fort Wayne as a whole. Here’s to building landmarks that impact the lives and communities we serve


Fine Arts School Now Open

Fine Arts Center

Strengthening School Programs 

Ribbon Cutting I

Excitement from many months of anticipation was felt as the Canterbury Community came together to officially open its new Fine Arts Center. Joined by the project team, the board of trustees, and key project donors, the group cut the ribbon, highlighting the final milestone since construction began in May of 2023.  

“The campus has transformed dramatically with the Fine Arts Center now serving as a welcoming front door to the High School Campus.” – Larry Weigand, CEO, Weigand Construction 

Designed for the Arts 

Ribbon Cutting II

Developed as the central hub for Canterbury’s Academy of the Arts, the new, 18,000 square foot facility has several specialized offerings for students such as: 

  • 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! 

These features allow for a diverse range of artistic disciplines for students to discover, explore, and hone throughout their learning journeys. Not only that, but access to this facility will be available for students in every grade, allowing them to foster creativity at all stages of their education. 

More Lasting than Bronze 

Ribbon Cutting III

This tremendous effort strengthening Canterbury’s educational experience resulted in a structure set to make an impact on every student passing through its doors. 

“In the building that stands behind us, our students, guided by their incredible teachers, will produce art that will last a lifetime. We could not be more thankful to the Surack and James families, and to all of our donors for your support. You have, in the words of Horace, helped us to construct ‘a monument more lasting than bronze.’” – David Jackson, Head of School, Canterbury School 

We cannot wait to see how students’ creativity flourishes through the programs at the Canterbury Fine Arts Center in the years to come! 


Gallery
Classroom
Blackbox Theatre
Large Window Classroom
Fine Arts Center II
Band/Orchestra
Classroom II
Rehearsal Space
Gallery II
Fine Arts Center

Wheel of Fortune Host Snips Ribbon on New Media Center

Ribbon Cutting

A Special Unveiling 

Hillsdale Media Team Members

Donors, partners, and members of the Hillsdale College community came together to experience the new Sajak Media Center, complete with sets and special lighting filling the space! Named after the project’s primary donor, Pat Sajak, the former Wheel of Fortune Host and current Hillsdale Board of Trustees Chairman, the Sajak Media Center is a 6,453 square foot facility with the space and equipment to support Hillsdale’s wide array of media projects.  

Before this new facility was completed, the Hillsdale Media Team would shoot their marketing and educational content in a studio in the Knorr Student Center basement. As their operations began to expand, the team’s output quickly outgrew the studio, creating a rising need for a new home for their video production. 

A Defining Upgrade 

Addressing the Crowd

The Sajak 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 Multiple Sets and Shoots 
  • A Green Room 
  • A Makeup Room 
  • And More 

Beyond Better Production 

This structure does more than just provide a better place to produce video. It strengthens Hillsdale’s deep library of online education courses that have been accessed by 1.7 million students. 

Green Room

“The center will also allow online learning and the visual arts team to have several sets available simultaneously, which means we can develop a more aggressive film schedule and produce more high-quality courses.”

Jeremiah Regan, Executive Director of Online Learning, Hillsdale College 

We’re excited to see another amazing project go up successfully here on Hillsdale College’s beautiful campus. We can’t wait to see how the Sajak Media Center bolsters their high-quality education in the years to come! 


Event Guests
Front Row Seats
Video Set at the Media Center
Addressing the Crowd
Larry Weigand and Pat Sajak
Event Podium
Donors Meeting
Mingling Before the Event
Donors Group Photo

Ministry Building Bridging the Gap

Ribbon Cutting

A Project to Shift the Region 

Main Hallway

Organizations, community partners, employees, donors, and residents from throughout the Fort Wayne community witnessed the grand opening of the brand-new Bridge of Grace facility. Introducing and expanding ministry services, this new construction is designed to house three specific functions of Bridge of Grace’s operations: 

  1. The Early Years Academy 
  1. Bridge of Grace Offices 
  1. The Alliance Health Clinic 

Early Childhood Development

The Early Years Academy supports growth and development for local 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 
  • Kitchen 
Preschool Room

“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 

A Brand New Office Space

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

  • Conference Rooms 
  • Cafe Area 
  • Office Suites 
  • Cubicle Layouts 
  • And More 

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 comes on the heels of many years of the ministry investing in Southeast Fort Wayne. Seeing an opportunity to revitalize and uplift an overlooked and underserved area of the city, Javier Mondragon Founder and CEO of Bridge of Grace Ministries, set out to serve and breathe life into a neighborhood whose people had been ignored and forgotten by many. 

Javier Mondragon Speech

“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 

We are honored to have joined forces with Bridge of Grace in this project that will directly impact lives through avenues like education, early childhood development, healthcare, and so much more. We’re excited to see how Bridge of Grace continues to pour into the community and change Southeast Fort Wayne for the better in the years to come! 


Health Clinic
Building Tours
Ribbon Cutting Event Members
Kelly Packnett Speech
Main Hallway
Alliance Health Speaking
Celebrating Cutting the Ribbon
Exam Room
Preschool Room
Chuck Surack Speech

NACS Carroll High School To Have Tremendous Expansion

Construction Vehicles


Investing in the Future 

Speech

Staff and leadership from throughout the Northwest Allen County School community came together to celebrate the beginning of the construction phase for Carroll Highschool’s newest construction project. One of three major NACS projects that broke ground in February, Carroll Highschool’s is an expansion and renovation that will address the need for more space as the student population continues to grow. Barton Coe Vilamaa is the operating architect while WCI is partnering in a Construction Manager as Constructor (CMc) role.  

Space to Stretch Out 

The school’s expansion will prevent overcrowding issues and ensure that there are enough resources to care for every student in attendance at any given time with additions such as: 

Shovels and Dirt
    • 27 Classrooms and Support Spaces 
    • New Central Media Center 
    • New Weight Room 
    • 4,000 Square Feet Added to Cafeteria 
    • Facility Renovations/Repurposed Classrooms
    • And More 

In total, this scope of work will create capacity for another 500 students to enter the Carroll Highschool system.  

Extended Partnership 

Groundbreaking

This is not the first major construction project that Weigand has performed for this client. In 2021, we teamed up with NACS to bring several large site upgrades to the Charger campus, including a new football field, parking improvements, bleachers, baseball and softball fields, press box, concessions stand, and merchandise store amongst other additions. These developments helped to advance Carroll’s athletics programs, and we’re looking forward to being part of another project that will enhance the learning experience, efficiency, and overall operational strength of the school.  


 

New NACS Administration Building is On the Way

Excavation Vehicles

A Facility to Serve the Region 

Hard Hats and Shovels

In January, we joined with our partners from Elevatus Architecture and Northwest Allen County Schools to kickoff construction at the site of the upcoming NACS Administration Center. This building will allow the school community administrative team to conduct daily operations outside of a school campus, as the current office is located within Perry Hill Elementary. The relocation of the NACS offices will also allow Perry Hill to utilize this space for four more classrooms. 

Central Administrative Hub 

When finished, the 33,000 square foot Administration Center will feature: 

  • A Multi-Use Board Room for Meetings and Training 
  • Base of Operations for Multiple Departments 
  • Office of Superintendent 
  • Technology Headquarters 
  • Multi-Use Kitchen Space 
  • And More 
Northern Allen County Schools Team

These components add up to a successful execution of NACS’ future workload, thinking ahead to best serve the needs of each school in the district. Being only one of three large construction projects taking place in their community, the Administration building will help to place every arm of the organization under one roof amidst the imminent population growth in the region. 

A Bright, Hopeful Future 

Groundbreaking Site

“It will be a place where ideas are born, decisions are made, and strategies are implemented to further our mission to ensure a high-quality, personalized education for every student…Together, we’re building more than just a building. We’re building a stronger, more vibrant future for NACS and our school community.”

Wayne Barker, Superintendent, Northwest Allen County Schools 

We are proud to have a role in this project with NACS and Elevatus. Once completed, this facility will be able to create a profound impact on the schools, families, and students in the community, making Northwest Fort Wayne a better place to live, learn, work, and play for years and years to come!  


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

How to Set Vision for the New Year

Mike Miller

It feels as though the year has just begun, and yet we’re just about to dip into the second quarter! This is a perfect time to check-in on yearly goals and see how they’re coming along.

For me, as I review both personal and team goals, my focus is always on the team first. For South Bend, my goal continues to be growing the Weigand “brand”. With not having a 116-year history like Fort Wayne, and not being as recognized regionally, I’m constantly looking for ways to increase awareness of our name. Some of these initiatives are strategic social media posts, community service days with a local not-for-profit, and using our new K-12 Scholarship Program in partnering with local school corporations.  

On a personal level, I remind myself to look at the larger picture. Each Weigand team member is busy dealing with the day-to-day whirlwind that we all live in. I can often get sucked into daily tasks requiring my full attention, and before I know it, a month or two has gone by and I’ve lost perspective. It’s important that I step back from time to time and remember the bigger goal. 

What about you? What’s important for you to keep in mind when you’re on the clock? Make time to gain context with your goals this year; it can help you reach them more consistently!

Mike Miller

Mike Miller

Business Development Associate