Students, teachers, and administrators of Wawasee Community Schools celebrated the completed steel frame of their upcoming performing arts center alongside Weigand Construction, Garmann Miller, and other partners at Wawasee High School in Syracuse, Indiana. The first milestone of the project, the “topping out” is a longstanding tradition practiced across many civilizations for thousands of years. Kent Gilliom, a Project Executive at WCI, outlined three elements involved in each ceremony:
“This beam has three features. First, our signatures. It’s a visual representation of the future inhabitants of the building. You, in a sense, become part of the structure, and forever will be a part of the structure. Second, the American flag is a sign of patriotism…and third, an evergreen that’s to represent growth and tradition, that nature should rise above any made made structure.”
With a crane on standby to lift the metal in place, students and community members excitedly signed the beam before WCI workers hoisted it to the top of the building, securing it to the frame. Just below the final resting place were two banners honoring the Local 292 Ironworkers Union and Crane Industrial Service CO., Inc., who were instrumental in assembling the steel structure.
Setting the Stage
The Performing Arts Center is a major addition to Wawasee High School, with the original theatre first hosting audiences and dramatic productions in 1968. Nearly 60 years later, the new facility will feature:
752-Seat Auditorium
Stage
Orchestra Pit
Sound and Lighting Booth
Lobby
Concession Stand
Ticket Booth
Band Room
Vocal Room
Practice Rooms
Faculty Offices
Dressing Rooms
Multi-Purpose Room
Scene Shop Room
Restrooms
Prop Room
Storage Space
These new amenities will help to meet the school’s expanding program offerings, facilitating events, performances, and learning opportunities for decades to come. The existing theatre area will be repurposed for CTE and supplemental classroom space upon project completion in fall 2026.
Stoking the Creative Flame
“Our theater has been a place where countless students discovered their voices, their confidence and their love for the arts. It has served us well for over five decades. But as our programs have grown and evolved, so too has our vision for what our students deserve – space that matches their talent and their passion…This new performing arts center will be a cornerstone for our school and community – a place where music, theater and creativity can truly shine.” – Geoff Walmer, Principal, Wawasee High School
Fairfield Community Schools welcomed students, families, and community members on October 30 to celebrate the grand opening of its new 28,000-square-foot athletic fieldhouse and the unveiling of its renovated theatreat Fairfield Jr./Sr. High School in Goshen.
The event marked a major milestone in the district’s ongoing commitment to providing state-of-the-art facilities for student development and community engagement. The updated theatre now features modern seating, an enhanced lobby, and advanced sound and lighting systems, transforming the space into a versatile venue for performances, assemblies, and local events.
“I’m just very excited,” said Superintendent Carrie Cannon. “These facilities are going to be utilized by our students and community for years to come. I’m so thankful for everyone who played a part in making this happen.”
The evening included performances by the Falcon cheerleaders and Fairfield Marching Pride, who added festive Halloween flair to the celebration. District leaders recognized Fairfield sports teams, as well as partners, architects Garmann Miller, and Weigand Construction, whose collaboration made the vision a reality. After a ribbon cutting, guests were invited to tour the new spaces and enjoy a taco dinner.
A Year-Round Hub for Athletics
The fieldhouse is now a centerpiece of Fairfield athletics, providing an indoor track and golf simulator, multi-sport courts, a viewing deck and team store. With the new facility, junior and high school teams finally have the room they need, no longer competing for the same gym space.
Across the district, New Paris, Millersburg, and Benton Elementary Schools also saw upgrades with energy-efficient HVAC systems, new chillers, and advanced temperature controls. These improvements now provide more consistent, comfortable learning environments that support focus and well-being.
Continued Investment in Fairfield’s Future
With these projects complete, Fairfield Schools is already moving forward with additional improvements. The district has issued $12 million in bonds to fund investments in technology, facilities, and infrastructure.
Phase 2, now underway with Weigand,includes a Marching Band Practice Area to enhance rehearsal logistics and safety. Planned parking lot reconfigurations will reduce traffic disruptions, improve lighting for early and late practices, and streamline equipment movement. And upgrades to running surfaces and training facilities will expand opportunities for track, field, and cross-country athletes.
Building a Legacy of Excellence
Through careful planning and strong community partnerships, Fairfield Schools continue to invest in the academic, athletic, and creative growth of their students. With a modern fieldhouse that elevates the game-day experience and a renovated theatre that showcases the district’s artistic talent, Fairfield now offers premier spaces that celebrate both athletics and the arts.
The second-grade class at Southwick Elementary was excited to help kick off construction of their forthcoming facility, located on Paulding Road in Fort Wayne. The project, set to finish in 2027, is one of three that Weigand is managing for East Allen County Schools, alongside the new Lions Fieldhouse and the East Allen University/Paul Harding Junior High School campus renovation.
“The project represents a commitment to our students. It is a commitment to building a future for them and a place where they will learn, grow, and thrive in spaces that support their curiosity and creativity.” – Marilyn Hissong, Superintendent, East Allen County Schools
A Growing District
Designed by Garmann Miller, the new facility will bring much needed space to address the school’s burgeoning student population. Attendance increased by 8% over the last year alone, with more expected in the near future. With this in mind, the replacement building will have:
Pod Style Layout
Gymnasium
Double Sided Stage
Classrooms
Dining Area
Community Event Spaces
With some students currently being housed in the nearby Prince Chapman Academy, the completion of this project will be a welcome addition to the EACS roster, helping to manage the influx of young learners entering the district.
A Team Effort
While sharing her remarks during the event, Superintendent Marilyn Hissong noted that it takes collaboration and the involvement of the entire region to help such an undertaking as this one materialize.
“This school will stand as a symbol of what’s possible when a community comes together for its children.” – Marilyn Hissong, Superintendent, East Allen County Schools
We’re thankful to be part of the group delivering the new Southwick Elementary building, which is positioned to nurture future generations of students as they develop, discover, and grow.
Plunging shovels into piles of soft earth, students, school administrators, builders, architects, and members of the Leo community marked the beginning of construction for a new fieldhouse coming to campus in 2026. With construction managed by WCI and design led by Garmann Miller on behalf of East Allen County Schools, this addition is just the first of many projects on the timeline for the district this year, as they look to maintain, renovate, and expand their diverse learning environments for current students and those to come.
Student Athletics Hub
The 34,000 square foot building will support multiple sports-related programs with spaces facilitating various activities:
3 Basketball Courts
Batting Cages
Wrestling Training Rooms
Track
Mezzanine
New Roads and Parking Access
Concessions Building
Vestibule
Retractable Bleachers
Educational Excellence
These features in the new fieldhouse serve to strengthen Leo Junior Senior High School’s athletic programming across several different sports. With the added space, school teams will no longer have to share the same areas to practice, streamlining schedules and simplifying logistics for students and parents. On top of improved coordination, the addition will also create an impact reaching past its physical attributes.
“…The true power of this project is not in the square footage or the programming. It’s in what this facility will do for the students, the staff, and the broader East Allen community. Inside these walls, young athletes will cultivate more than just growth in their skill and their strength. They’ll build confidence, character, and community. They’ll forge relationships, learn resilience, and discover how to compete with integrity.” – Larry Weigand, CEO, Weigand Construction
The sight lines are also aimed at higher than just sports. For East Allen County Schools, it’s a promise to continue promoting environments where students thrive.
“This groundbreaking isn’t just about laying the foundation for a building; it’s about the opportunities it will afford. And it will stand as a testament to our collective commitment to excellence in academics, athletics, and arts.” – Marilyn Hissong, Superintendent, EACS
On a gray April morning that gradually faded into spring sunshine, the Goshen community gathered at 1730 Regent Street to celebrate the grand opening of a long-anticipated project: a new baseball and softball complex. This event marked a significant milestone in the city’s commitment to youth athletics.
Nestled behind Prairie View Elementary on Goshen’s south side, the new complex is now the unified home for RedHawk baseball and softball. The facility features two synthetic turf fields, LED stadium lighting, covered dugouts, digital scoreboards, batting cages, and dedicated bullpens. A central building houses amenities like locker rooms, coaches’ offices, and a concession stand for players and fans in one location.
“This project came to life through the collective support of many in our community who believed in this vision,” said Goshen High School Principal Cathy DeMeyer. “We couldn’t be prouder to unveil this top-tier facility.”
Replacing Phend Field and the flood-prone diamond at Shanklin Park, the new complex feels more like a homecoming than a farewell. “The community made a conscious decision to bring baseball and softball together in one shared space,” noted Superintendent Jim DuBois. “That’s what led us to choose this site. And now, playing on these high-quality fields will only help our programs grow and thrive.”
RedHawks Take to the Field
The grand opening featured a RedHawk baseball doubleheader, starting with a dominant 13-run win over La Porte — their highest-scoring game of the season. Junior Bryson Wilson made a standout effort on the mound, pitching five solid innings and notching his first RBIs of the year at the plate.
On the adjacent softball field, the RedHawk girls took on Fairfield High School in a hard-fought game that ended in a 9–5 loss, but not without undeniable energy.
“Seeing our RedHawks step onto these fields is incredibly rewarding,” said Athletic Director Jim Pickard. “I’m grateful to everyone who played a role in bringing this vision to life.”
Building a New Legacy
Construction kicked off in June 2024, with Weigand leading the build. Karen Fisher of Barton Coe Vilamaa headed up the design team, while Andy Bearman and his crew at A&Z Engineering managed critical components like drainage, lighting, and grandstand infrastructure.
“Our priority was delivering a high-quality project,” said Brian Blight, Senior Project Manager at Weigand, “Staying on schedule was critical to ensure the teams were ready for the 2025 season.”
A two-month delay in permitting could have derailed the schedule, but the construction team, led by Blight, Superintendent RJ Eck, and Project Engineer Brandon Hartstein, made up for lost time. “Everyone pulled together and worked in the same direction to make it happen,” Blight said.
One of the complex’s standout features is its advanced drainage system. “Water drains so efficiently that within 15 minutes, you can be back on the field and barely know it rained,” Blight explained. “Short of severe weather, these fields are ready for play almost anytime.”
First Pitches from Goshen Leaders
Two well-known figures, Ken Mirer and Paula Meyers, threw the ceremonial first pitches. Mirer, a longtime Goshen coach who guided the baseball team to five straight sectional titles, a regional championship, and led the football team to two Indiana Class AA state titles, expressed his excitement about the new fields.
“This is unbelievable — it’s as well done as I could have imagined or hoped for,” he said. “There’s a lot of pride behind it.”
Meyers, a Goshen alumna and longtime school employee, has been an advocate for softball facility upgrades and was instrumental in bringing this project to life.
The new complex reflects a broader community investment. “It’s more than a field — it’s a symbol of equity, progress, and the value we place on giving our students the best,” DuBois said, “and the impact goes beyond high school athletics.”
Inspiring Student-Athletes
Already, the fields are slated to host IHSAA sectionals in softball (2025) and baseball (2026). Youth leagues and summer camps are also expected to use the complex, deepening Goshen’s role as a regional sports destination.
Student-athletes are noticing the difference. Olivia Garcia, a a junior who plays both JV and varsity softball, says the upgraded field has strengthened her team. “Having a new field has brought us closer together,” she said. “Being able to experience something new is a great opportunity that we’ve been given. It’s motivated us to give it our all.”
That kind of energy wasn’t always easy. “The old field had dips and mud,” Blight said. “It was tough to maintain, especially in the spring. Now, they have something on par with college programs.”
The complex also serves as a powerful reminder of Goshen’s enduring community spirit. “This is a tight-knit community,” Mirer said. “Back in the day, we’d pack the gym for every basketball game — about 4,000 people. And it wasn’t just families with kids playing; it was people who had played here themselves. That pride carries from one generation to the next. Goshen has always had tremendous community support, and that continues.”
Students, project partners, and school faculty gathered to kick off construction of their new Student Activity Center. Members of the architectural team, school facilities, and our own construction team took to the podium to speak. Sharing the origins of this exciting addition and its benefits, the ceremony finished with students, teachers, and administrators digging up fresh dirt, officially beginning the building phase.
“We are so ecstatic to get this off the ground. I would also like to show our gratitude to Weigand Construction and Garmin Miller…the quality and dedication that Weigand and Garmin Miller have brought to the table for Fairfield Community Schools has been extremely, extremely professional.” – Carrie Cannon, Superintendent, Fairfield Community Schools
The Breakdown
Part of a $30M project that packages renovations and improvements to Fairfield’s existing campus, The Student Activity Center will include:
Two Stories
Two Lane Track
Bleacher Section with 640 Seats
Batting Cages
Mezzanine
Lobby
Basketball Courts
Volleyball Courts
Multi-Use Spaces for Events and After School Programs
One challenge the school faces is the lack of room for clubs, workshops, and sports team practices. Fairfield administrators noted that these features would play a vital role in supporting the school’s extracurricular activities, creating more space for large groups to meet for academic and athletic purposes.
Serving the Community
Seeing the potential of what a project like this could do for the community, it was crucial that our team bring the best building solutions possible to the table. We’re encouraged by the passion and involvement the Fairfield Community demonstrated over the course of planning this project.
“We heard about this project back in December of 2022…in that timeframe we’ve witnessed a tremendous amount of involvement from this community, and there’s no doubt that you all care greatly about what we’re doing here. At Weigand, our why is that we build landmarks that impact the lives and communities that we serve, and there’s no doubt that’s what we’re doing here and I’m grateful to be a part of it.” – Aaron Holy, Director of Operations South Bend, Weigand Construction
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
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
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.
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
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
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!
Community members, school leadership, and project partners came together in early June to celebrate the official start of construction on the new Baseball/Softball Complex for Goshen High School. Set to be built on the campus of Prairie View Elementary, the new sports complex is a project that comes after more than 60 years spent playing on existing, outdated fields.
“We had a baseball field, it was in terrible shape, I hate to say, I think it’s probably one of the worst baseball fields in northern Indiana. But our softball field wasn’t any better and that was at the park, and we couldn’t play the games there.”
Jim DuBois, Superintendent, Goshen Community Schools
A Better Playing Experience
With conversations about finding a new home for the baseball and softball teams starting 20 years ago, planning for this new facility has been a long time in the making. Some fresh amenities that will come with the complex include:
Baseball Diamond
Softball Diamond
Field Lighting
Turf
Press Boxes
Parking
Team Dugouts
Concessions and Restroom Facility
And More
Turf on fields will allow rain during the Spring season to drain more efficiently, preventing fields from flooding. This reduces the number of postponed games. On top of that, new lighting fixtures will allow for better visibility in the dark, making support for night games possible.
Better Access for Everyone
Parking has been a known issue at the field where the baseball team plays, but that problem will be resolved after this project’s completion.
“This plan there’ll be parking right there next to the softball/baseball facility. If we do need overflow, the elementary school here will have extra parking spaces. It would be after school hours so there’ll be plenty of room to park at the elementary school.”
Jim DuBois, Superintendent, Goshen Community Schools
We’re excited for the opportunity to partner with Goshen Community Schools and provide the softball and baseball players with a brand-new space that meets their needs now and into the future. Families and spectators can expect to see teams in action at the sports complex by 2025!
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.
