Category: Weigand News

Wheel of Fortune Host Snips Ribbon on New Media Center

Posted on June 25, 2024

A Special Unveiling

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

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.

“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!

Groundbreaking Sports Complex Project

Posted on June 25, 2024

A New Field for the Home Team

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View Elementary, the new sports complex is a project that comes after more than 60 years spent playing on existing, outdated fields.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!

New YMCA Hits Project Milestone

Posted on June 25, 2024

Another Steppingstone

Locals, leaders, and community partners gathered in Muncie, Indiana to watch the final beam of the steel frame secured at the site of the new YMCA facility. This step, marking the “end of the beginning” of the construction process, is the first major milestone of the project. Set to be completed in early February of 2025, more accomplishments marking the facility’s progress will follow in the coming months as Weigand and its project partners continue to churn forward.

More Function

Once complete, the YMCA of Muncie’s new building will span 73,000 square feet and feature:

A Community Health Clinic

An Aquatics Center with Two Pools

Weight Room

Exercise Equipment

Gymnasium

And Much More

A Community Effort

On top of many great amenities, the new facility was made possible through the community’s support. Funded by many local organizations and donations, the YMCA will benefit more than membership holders through sharing the Aquatics Center with the local high school and the health clinic.

“This moment embodies the strength of our community coming together to build a brighter future. I am incredibly proud of the dedication and hard work that has brought us to this point, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact the YMCA of Muncie will have on the lives of so many.” – Chad Zaucha, President and CEO, YMCA of Muncie

We are looking forward to seeing this new YMCA building up and running for the good of everyone in the Muncie community!

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!