Tag: Fort Wayne Construction

NACS School To Have Tremendous Expansion

Posted on April 2, 2024

Investing in the Future

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:

- 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

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.

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

Fine Arts Facility Tops Out at Canterbury

Posted on September 18, 2023

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:

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

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!

Students and faculty watching the ceremony

Worker tightening the final beam in place in the frame

Workers removing the cables from the beam

Noble County Wins Big at the APWA’s

Posted on June 19, 2023

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.

5 Important Updates at Steuben County

Posted on June 19, 2023

The End of the Beginning

On Monday, April 10th, Weigand workers attached the final beams of the Steuben County Judicial Center’s frame, marking a new progress milestone for the project. When finished in 2024, the new facility will be over 56,000 square feet, making it the first new judicial system construction in over 150 years. The current Steuben County Annex, which was first built in 1867, has become increasingly outdated and unable to meet new municipal building accessibility requirements. After a period of putting together a plan that went between updating the Annex or creating an entirely new facility, community officials decided to move forward with starting from scratch with a new judicial center.

Bringing Officials Together

The 3 Story + Partial Basement structure brings several amenities and more space:

3 Courtrooms in the upper levels
Offices
Support Spaces
Storage Areas
Holding Cells
Mechanical Spaces

With a significant increase in square footage, Steuben County’s justice system will be able to bring most of its public offices into one single building. All but the Sheriff’s Department will transfer to the new building, including some additional offices like the Clerk of Courts, Probation Department, and the Steuben County Prosecuting Attorney’s office.

Project Dedication

Despite the challenges that come with construction during the winter months, our team has completed 210 consistent days of project operations, putting us one-third of the way through 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.

Starting from Rock Bottom

The success of completing the steel topping would not have been possible without the expert work of Weigand’s concrete crew, however. Beginning the job in the basement, crews spent weeks safely excavating soil and creating the bottom level of the structure. This part of the project was finalized 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 and steel framing to go up, allowing us to see the “skeleton” of the facility for the first time!

Homegrown Investment

Students from Hendry Park Elementary School attended the topping out ceremony, and many locals have voiced in favor of this project. There was debate initially on whether the original judicial building should be a renovation project instead of an entirely new structure, but once a decision had been made, the community rallied behind the conclusion and saw this construction as an important next step for the region. The Steuben County Government, RQAW Architecture, and the City of Angola have also demonstrated their show of support, partnering with Weigand in this venture. However, this is not just a municipal project for the county. It’s also an opportunity for Weigand staff to invest directly in the places they call home. Five employees from our firm reside in Steuben, including the Project Manager and the Superintendent assigned to the job.

Invest in the Future of Construction!

Posted on June 19, 2023

Meet our 2023 Class of Summer Interns!

Earlier last month, our 2023 class of summer interns had their orientation day! They met with the CEO, President, and the Safety Department to get an insider’s look at our company and our values. They also got to have some fun at a Fort Wayne TinCaps game at Parkview Field!

With interns placed in our business development, preconstruction, project management, and field ops divisions, they’re covering a wide swathe of our company’s everyday operations across many of our departments.

These 18 students will be working, learning, and receiving hands-on guidance on our jobsites and offices throughout the Midwest. Our team is excited to pour into this group, and we can’t wait to see where the next few months take them in their learning journeys!

“I look forward to working with these young men and women this summer as they create a solid foundation for their professional careers!”
Nick Craghead, Staffing Coordinator

Two Eye-Opening Projects Score Wins at the BCA Awards

Posted on March 30, 2023

Two Award-Winning Projects

The results are in! We have two projects that have been awarded by the Building Contractors Assocation of Northeast Indiana. After careful consideration and reviewing the square footage, pricing, building process, functionality, and overall features of our jobs, the BCA has selected us as winners in two different categories:

Electric Works took the “Over $12 Million” Division.
Parkview Physicians Group Electric Works Clinic was chosen in the “$1 Million to $5 Million” Division.

This marks the 20^th year that the BCA Annual Awards Program has highlighted standout construction projects in the Northeast Indiana Region. Electric Works, PPG Electric Works Clinic, Project Owners, and Weigand will be officially recognized during the Spring Membership Dinner & Awards Banquet on April 20^th.

A Team Effort

We’re proud of what our team has accomplished across all our projects in 2022. It’s the dedication to quality, doing what we say we’re going to do, and our commitment to the client that guides us in each and every job we take on. That being said, those values mean little in the grand scheme if they’re not upheld by individuals, crews, and project teams that believe in their significance too. We’re lucky to have a group that’s devoted to integrity at every level of leadership. From workers to project executives, it’s our mentality to go there together that has helped us succeed time and again throughout the years.

How to Set Vision for the New Year

Posted on March 30, 2023

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

Business Development Associate

Exciting Ministry Unleashes Hope for Community

Posted on March 21, 2023

Raising Shovels for Hope

Bridge of Grace leadership, donors, and committee members gleefully tossed soil with shovels in hand, officially breaking ground for the ministry’s new Early Childhood Development Center and Comprehensive Health Clinic this March. A piece to a bigger puzzle, the project is part of their “Hope Unleashed” Capital Campaign. The 30,000 square foot building will serve the Mount-Vernon Park and Pettit-Rudisill neighborhoods in Southeast Fort Wayne. Desiring to aide an overlooked section of Fort Wayne, groups from across the city joined forces and make this happen.

“We are just so excited. This is a monumental step to be able to have an early learning center provide quality of care for children; it’s just incredible. People here not only need these services, but also, they deserve it.”
Javier Mondragon, CEO and Founder of Bridge of Grace

First Step of Many

“Hope Unleashed” currently raises funds in multiple categories such as housing, opportunity, progress, and education. As a result of the tremendous support shown for the community, the campaign garnered over $13 million in funding with a goal to reach $15 million by the end. In addition to the new facility, the donations cover home ownership programs, local business growth, park renovations, and more.

Bright Future Ahead

Weigand is proud to partner with Bridge of Grace on this project. It’s an honor to be part of such an important job. Although this is just the beginning, we look forward to seeing the profound impact this has on Southeast Fort Wayne!

Ad Firm Finds New Home at EW

Posted on January 5, 2023

A Fresh New Look

Ferguson is enjoying their second-story view from Building 20! The marketing firm moved their central operations from their old location on West Berry Street to Electric Works at the beginning of 2023. As with the rest of campus, Weigand was responsible for the renovations needed to prepare the Ferguson’s space for a new era of innovation and forward thinking. After experiencing sizeable growth, which has led to three times the staff size, and serving the team at Electric Works as a client, the leadership at Ferguson made the decision to relocate. They’re at the center of all the exciting things happening in The Fort with some extra legroom to boot!

What’s There

This 10,777 square foot restoration job features a sprawling, comfy space including:

Open Office Layout
Cubicles
Convertible Meeting Room with Garage-Style Door
Open Seating/Collaborative Spaces
Separate Rooms with Additional Offices and Meeting Areas

Warmly lit, industrial look paired with a touch of modern design.

Making a New Home

Our crews dedicated a balance of preservation and restoration with this project. Because Electric Works is on the national registry of historical places, particular elements of the structure had to stay the same as they were when the original building was put together. Some ways our team approached this were by installing the exact same windows that were used when General Electric was operating decades ago and keeping the warehouse overhead cranes. All the old materials were stripped out of the structure besides the supports, brickwork, and masonry. From here, any damaged or worn-down sections of the building were repaired, outfitted with new lighting, new access points, updated casework, and utilities. These processes created a new home for Ferguson Advertising to continue working with their clients for years to come!