Newsletter | Weigand Construction

The Next Phase

A new addition is on the way to the landmark Electric Works redevelopment. Project stakeholders, politicians, contractors, and the local community gathered to commemorate ongoing construction of the next stage of the EW Campus: The Elex. Bringing several important commodities to the region, the completed project includes:

296 Residential Units
89 Affordable Housing Units
Parking Garage
Private Courtyard
Fitness Center
Early Childhood Learning Center
Commercial and Retail Space

A Piece of the Past

Calling back to the campus’ former roots, the development is named after G.E.’s female employee group known as The Elex Club. The term “elex” is Latin for electric. First established in 1916, the collective operated as a philanthropic organization for many decades in order “to promote social and educational activities, to foster the spirit of friendly service, and to stand for the highest ideals of womanhood [Elex Club. (1998). Elex Club History, 1916-1998 (p. 3)].”

Going even further back, the group took its name from what used to be a local women’s basketball team. The players eventually became the founding members of the club itself. To celebrate this special era of local history, a special bouquet of pink roses was produced and placed in front of the podium during the commemoration.

A Win for the Community

89 total units are dedicated to affordable housing. 47 of them set aside for those over the age of 55. Another 20 are for those with developmental disabilities. This ensures the Elex will have the capacity to support people at all stages of life.

U.S. Senator Todd Young addresses ceremony guests.

“Housing costs are high, and across the country, communities are trying to figure out ways to revitalize downtowns and make housing more affordable…That’s why The Elex is a big win for Fort Wayne. The public-private partnerships that have made Electric Works a reality can serve as a model for communities looking to increase housing options and improve their quality of place.” – Todd Young, U.S. Senator

We look forward to expanding the Electric Works Campus with this new phase, bringing the vision of The Elex and a thriving community to life!

An Excerpt from our Q2 Newsletter

Larry Weigand – CEO

Welcome to the inaugural edition of Weigand’s e-newsletter! This is a fantastic opportunity to connect and communicate quarterly news. I am thrilled to highlight in this issue our people and partnerships within the South Bend region, where Weigand recently expanded our geographic footprint with the opening of a downtown office.

Why South Bend, you might ask? At Weigand, we believe that building partnerships is as important as building projects. In fact, we would say it is foundational to our success as a company. Strong partnerships played a significant role in our decision to expand into the north central Indiana region, where we have been involved in an increasing number of projects in recent years. Opening an office in South Bend allows us to improve upon our existing presence while continuing to provide exceptional service to the Michiana community. The Barnes & Thornburg Building – this issue’s spotlight project – is a case in point of people and partnerships working together to create momentum in a city on the rise.

Similar to other cities across America, South Bend is experiencing a notable urban revitalization. The Barnes & Thornburg Building is the first new office building to be constructed in over 20 years. It is an exciting time, with a strong supply of local projects providing ample opportunity for a variety of relationships to evolve. The city itself is investing nearly $50 million to improve parks, trails and the South Bend riverfront, and neighboring cities in the region are following suit. Young professionals, empty nesters, and even families are looking for downtown housing options that provide them an “authentic” experience, involving the combination of work, life and play. South Bend is striving hard to meet those needs.

The ability to provide our Michiana employees with a permanent home downtown where they can serve lifetime clients as lifetime residents and neighbors only serves to fuel this spirit of collaboration and community. Check out the employee spotlight section to meet our homegrown South Bend team and see our new office!

We continue to move forward with fierce resolve to meet the needs of our clients, our industry partners, and our Weigand team, and we are doing it the Weigand Way – by building landmarks that impact the lives and communities we serve!