Category: Fort Wayne News

New Animal Shelter Homeward Bound

Posted on September 17, 2024

Sharon Bodenhafer Critter Center

Community members, Humane Fort Wayne staff, press, project partners, donors, and local officials gathered to watch the ribbon cutting for Humane Fort Wayne’s newest building, marking the official end of the construction phase and the opening of the facility. Together with donor Chuck Bodenhafer, Jessica Henry-Johnson, Humane Fort Wayne Executive Director, snipped the decorative blue ribbon, followed by a chorus of cheers from an energized crowd of supporters and animal lovers.

Built for All Paws

Sitting at 25,600 square feet, the new facility features:

Kennels with Open Air Access

Cat Colonies with Large Windows

Outdoor Play Areas

Walking Trail

Lobby

Community Education Center

Training Spaces

And More

With more space and resources provided by this new structure, the team at Humane Fort Wayne will not only have more room for pets on their adoption list but also an expanded list of service offerings for the community.

“The truth is this is going to help us unleash love on this community by way of helping homeless pets find forever homes and by providing spay/neuter services and wellness services for more than 30,000 animals in this community every year.” – Jessica Henry-Johnson, Executive Director, Humane Fort Wayne

Continuing the Legacy

For more than 65 years, Humane Fort Wayne has operated in Northeast Indiana, facilitating animal adoptions, educational resources, pet food pantries, assistance programming, and low-cost clinical services. We’re proud to be able to serve alongside as partners in this venture, bringing this vision, which is more than five years in the making, into the real world. We can’t wait to see how animals thrive in this facility built to connect them to their forever homes throughout the region.

“I’m forever grateful to the folks who built this building brick-by-brick, cinder block-by-cinder block. I truly felt as though the folks from Weigand wanted this facility for me as much as I wanted it for my team. The relationship I have and the respect I have for Larry Weigand and his crew is immeasurable. We even have a golden hammer here in honor of Tony Heckman our [superintendent] and Jon Becker our project manager because I really felt like for the last 14 months, we’ve been linked arms, and today they cut the ribbon with me in spirit because without them, none of this would have come to fruition, certainly not in the way that it has.” – Jessica Henry-Johnson, Executive Director, Humane Fort Wayne

Upcoming Music Project Name Revealed

Posted on September 17, 2024

A Song not yet Written

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

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

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

Posted on September 17, 2024

Strengthening School Programs

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!

The Intern to Employee Pipeline

Posted on June 25, 2024

An Excerpt from our Q2 Newsletter

My name is Alexis Gregory, and I’m a Workforce Development Administrator here at Weigand Construction!

How it All Began

The last time you heard from me, I was a first-year intern beginning my career in Weigand’s Marketing Department during the summer of 2023. Throughout that time, I visited numerous jobsites, interacted with superintendents and field professionals, got firsthand experience seeing amazing projects being built, did press coverage for events like groundbreakings, and much more.

Back to School

As the summer ended, I returned to college for one final semester before graduation. My internship continued, where I transitioned to WCI’s HR Department. From organizing career fairs to poring over job descriptions, I gained key insights into HR’s operations. Working on company event preparations and content creation also expanded my skill set. Despite numerous challenges, I embraced the opportunity to learn and grow.

On the Team

This January, I accepted a full-time position, combining aspects of my internship with new responsibilities. I now have the pleasure of attending career fairs, aiding in recruiting future interns and full-time employees, while also creating new resources for training and development. It’s been a fulfilling journey, marked by lessons learned and new experiences. I’m excited to see the internship program continue expanding, with 26 interns set to join us this summer—an even bigger class from the previous year. These interns represent various departments across our entire company, and I look forward to seeing how they impact Weigand Construction’s future. I’m thrilled to play a role in their development as they shape the company’s success!

Alexis Gregory

Workforce Development Administrator

Ministry Building Bridging the Gap

Posted on June 25, 2024

A Project to Shift the Region

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:

The Early Years Academy

Bridge of Grace Offices

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

“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.

“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!

Fort Wayne’s New Mayor Sworn In

Posted on April 23, 2024

A Historical Moment for the Community

Congratulations to Sharon Tucker, who was sworn in as Fort Wayne’s new Mayor this week!

We look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with the City of Fort Wayne and Sharon Tucker and continue contributing to the growth and success of our city.

Here’s to making history in Fort Wayne and impacting the lives and communities we serve!

Time for Focus in 2024

Posted on April 2, 2024

An Excerpt from our Q1 Newsletter

New Year, New Tasks

As we’re already a quarter of the way into 2024, my mind races forward with the question that many of us ask from time to time, what’s next? However, I’m quickly reminded of what’s right in front of me for today: the task at hand.

In Looking Ahead

Regardless of the role that you play, at Weigand, we all enjoy looking ahead. Sometimes, however (or maybe it’s just me), we can take our eyes off of the work we have, in the moment. On the glass of my office door, I have a sticker of our Core Competencies. One of those competencies is, “Attention to Detail”. As my business development team members will attest to, I’m a stickler for detail. Charles Swindoll, a pastor and author, says, “the difference between something good and something great, is attention to detail.”

It’s the Little Things

In today’s environment of constant busyness, the challenge I have for myself, and I would encourage you to consider as well, is to focus on the little things, the details. If each of us do that, we can turn our good ideas, methods, and solutions, into great ones. Let’s make 2024 a year of dialing into the details and keeping our eyes on the mark!

Mike Miller

Business Development Associate

NACS Carroll High 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.

New NACS Administration Building is On the Way

Posted on April 2, 2024

A Facility to Serve the Region

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

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

“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!

Exciting, Newcomer School Project Kickoff!

Posted on April 2, 2024

A New School for a New Region

In Huntertown, IN, rows of shovels plunged into soft earth on a rainy morning, tossing soil across the gravel covering the site of a brand-new middle school in the Northern Allen County Schools community: Willow Creek. Backed by a row of earthworks equipment, NACS representatives, the Moake Park Architecture Team, and community leaders commemorated the start of the construction phase, eager to bring this dream project into the real world.

Learning Path Opportunities

This school, which will feed into Carroll High School once completed, will have features such as:

Space to Accommodate Up to 1,000 students
Span 185,500 Square Feet
Administrative Space
Gymnasium
Student Library
Cafeteria
Auditorium
Social/Study Spaces
Band Room
And More

These elements speak to the intentionality and preparation that NACS leadership has put into planning this project, as the Huntertown region is continually expanding, with neighborhood developments continuing to expand into all pockets of Northwest Fort Wayne.

“This is just another step forward in our mission to ensure high quality, personalized education for every student.”
Wayne Barker, Superintendent, Northwest Allen County Schools

Community Legacy

This project was also made possible with the help of the Malcom and Hatch families, who agreed to sell sections of their land to be used to build Willow Creek.

“As we break this ground today, let’s look back and be thankful for the generations of Malcom’s and Hatch’s that have farmed this land and let us also look forward and envision the vibrant learning community that will soon take shape within the school walls that are constructed here. A community where curiosity is encouraged, talents are nurtured, and friendships are forged.”
Wayne Barker, Superintendent, Northwest Allen County Schools

We’re excited to serve on this NACS project, bringing more education opportunities to more families in the community!