THE MAIDEN VOYAGE
Making its first-ever foray into the sport, Indiana Wesleyan University got its football stadium just in time for the upcoming season in August of 2018. Working closely with Design Collaborative, the architects for this project, IWU leadership spent substantial time to determine not only what was best design for the athletes and staff, but also what was best for students and visitors coming to experience the arena on game day. With Weigand operating as the Construction Manager on this job, groundbreaking began in 2016.
THE MINDS BEHIND THE DESIGN
The overall look and layout of the stadium was a team effort shared between the architect, IWU’s athletics department director, university administrators, the president, and dean of students. This collaboration brought together the various features that we see included in the stadium today. John Jones, Vice President of Operations at IWU, had this to say regarding the design process: “Through countless hours of meetings involved in planning a facility such as this we have arrived at what I think is a design that will honor our mission as a Christ-centered university, Christ-centered athletic program and our commitment to excellence in all we build.” Wildcat Stadium is planted on a 5-acre lot that sits close to the school’s track and field building. It features:
- A Special Field dug three feet lower to create a bowl shape
- Seating for up to 4,000 people
- Visitor and Home Team Seating Sections
- Seating Areas placed around the border of the field
- Concessions and Restrooms
- Visiting Team, Coach, and Officials’ Locker Rooms
- A 17,000 square foot Home Team Support Facility with padded locker room, weight room, meeting rooms, and athletic training areas.
The Support Facility is also utilized by all other teams in the athletics program, creating a multi-use building that bolsters the operational bandwidth of the athletics department.
A SPOTLIGHT FOR YEARS TO COME
We’re proud to be a part of this sports milestone that marks IWU’s 100 years of history. We look forward to seeing Wildcat Stadium continue to spark excitement, community pride, and culture into the future!
BUILT TO UNITE
First opened in the Spring of 2015, the Ott Hall of Sciences and Nursing is an academic building tailored to undergraduates, faculty, and graduate students across multiple subjects in health sciences. The facility aims to bring these three groups together under one roof, promoting collaboration, mentorship, and social learning within health and wellness schooling in each category.
CENTER FOR RESEARCH
The 110,000 square foot building features a large variety of studying and teaching spaces such as:
- Independent Study Spaces
- Laboratories
- Classrooms
- Lecture Hall
- Physical Therapy Lab and Classrooms
- Collaborative Spaces
- Meeting Rooms
- Teaching Stations
- Gross Anatomy Lab
Serving a population of over 3,000 students, this education hall supports undergraduates, graduates, and faculty at every stage of their learning and teaching careers. Using intentional design and the latest technology, Ott Hall is structured to enrich each person’s experience in working towards their career goals.
A FAMILY AFFAIR
The Sciences and Nursing Building is named after two school alumni: Gary and Connie Ott. With four generations of their family attending the school and still greatly involved in IWU themselves, Gary and Connie chose to give the school the largest donation in its history. This generous funding was used to help pay for constructing the new hall.
A NEW LOOK FOR A NEW GENERATION
With groundbreaking for the original building first beginning in 1986, the Noggle Christian Ministries Center has been a fixture of Indiana Wesleyan’s Ministry Program for decades. A building that has seen many changes and adjustments to its design, layout, and structure over the years, the NCMC was ripe for an update. Because of this, Weigand was brought in to oversee the renovations as the Construction Manager.
SWITCHING THINGS UP
One primary change at NCMC during the project was reshuffling the classrooms and offices. Offices for professors and staff were moved to the building’s second floor while classrooms were brought down to the main floor. Classrooms got an upgrade as well. Along with modern technology to enhance the learning experience, rooms were designed to imitate the spaces used in the professional world. For example, classrooms teaching worship or youth ministry were built to mimic sanctuaries and church youth spaces. Designated as specialized labs, these spaces give students an environment as close to the real world as possible. Other new features include:
- Bistro Room with rounded classroom layout
- 24-Hour Study Lounge
- Connecting Entrance to Elder Hall
- Seminar Room
STRENGTHENING EDUCATION
The results of this renovation project equip the NCMC to effectively support IWU’s School of Theology and Ministry. With a large volume of education programs taught under one roof (17 Majors, 17 Minors, and 4 Graduate Programs), the facility improvements bolster faculty, staff, and students in their teaching and learning careers. By extending the Noggle Christian Ministries Center’s lease on life, the facility has the capacity to host events, discipleship, training, mentorship, and academic excellence for generations to come.
OPEN FOR STUDY
On Wednesday, September 21st, 2022, Indiana Wesleyan University officially opened the doors to its brand-new Engineering Building. With Weigand serving as construction manager on this project, the 30,540 square foot structure now serves as the home for the engineering program.
ANOTHER MAN’S TREASURE
Although this building is a recent addition to the university, it comes from an existing construction. This is because the structure used to be an old Marsh grocery store before it was transformed. As a result, the work to get it up and running for the fall semester required renovation. The IWU Engineering Building features:
- Office Space
- Dual-Use Classrooms
- Engineering Shops
- Computer Labs
- Robots and Automation Lab
- Circuits and Instrumentation Lab
- Civil Engineering Lab
- Materials Lab
- Thermo-Fluid Lab
- Senior Design/Collaborative Space
GEARED FOR STUDENTS’ SUCCESS
The program will offer a more diverse mix of class types to help give students a well-rounded approach to engineering. “One quote I like the most is ‘engineering is half art, half science.’ But most engineering programs in the USA tend to focus more heavily on the science part,” says Dr. David Che, the program director, “we want to leverage the strength of our art and design program by offering this highly integrative and innovative concentration.”
It’s been amazing to bring this project to life. We can’t wait to see how Indiana Wesleyan uses this building to benefit students for years to come.
FOR AN EXPANDING STUDENT BODY
With an ever-growing student population on campus, Indiana Wesleyan University’s original home for chapel services, the Performing Arts Center, ran into an issue. The Arts Center’s capacity slowly began to dip as the influx of students living on campus began to increase year over year. As awareness for this issue was raised, campus leadership drew plans for a new facility that can accommodate larger numbers for years into the future. Weigand joined the project as the Construction Manager, overseeing the entire building plan. The product of this process was the IWU Chapel-Auditorium. A record-breaking job for its time in 2009, the Chapel was the largest building project in the school’s history up until that point.
SERVING MANY PURPOSES
The Chapel is an 85,000 square foot building that features a giant auditorium that seats 3,600. This is a huge step up from the original gathering place, the Performing Arts Center, which could only seat up to 1,200 people at any given time. There is a floor and balcony section that stretch over a wide area to maximize access and seating to more people at once. Due to the impressive scale of the auditorium, other uses were factored into the design. The giant stage and plentiful seating not only lent themselves well to hosting chapel gatherings, but also conferences, concerts, shows, and many other unique events.
FOR MINISTRY
As faith is a central piece of IWU’s core structure, the successful delivery of this facility creates a new home for the university’s students and faculty to worship and practice faith as one body under a single roof. The building provides a special place that promotes the unity of over 3,000 students and the professors that guide them across a 350-acre campus.
A BETTER OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING EXPERIENCE
Students that do not live in the on-campus dorms now have access to living spaces with modern design and feel thanks to the new Townhome Complex! With Weigand operating as Construction Manager on this project, these new homes will provide a comfortable place for students to study, sleep, and socialize in their day-to-day activities!
The idea and funding for this complex came after Thomas Duke, a trustee at Hillsdale, saw room for improvement in the college’s housing offerings.
LOTS OF AMENITIES
The complex consists of six units with four of them holding up to eight occupants and two up to five. These three-floor townhouses feature:
- Beautiful Entryway
- Spacious Kitchen
- Dining Room
- Living Room
- Washer and Dryer Spaces
- Furnished Bedrooms with Private Bathrooms
- Utility Rooms
- Modern Design that makes use of Natural Lighting
JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED
“It will be everything a student would want. You can move in, get to work, get to class quick and have privacy and a really nice environment.” – Thomas Duke, Hillsdale College Trustee
These townhomes set a new standard for resident life at Hillsdale, and we’re excited to see where this takes college living in the future!
RELIGIOUS CONSTRUCTION MILESTONE
As the first new religious chapel of this magnitude in over 70 years in the United States, the construction of Christ Chapel on Hillsdale College’s campus has been a truly unique opportunity. The official dedication ceremony for the Chapel took place on October 3rd, 2019, with Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas remarking, “[College students] need a place where they can go to be relieved of their troubles and get their bearing as so much comes at them so fast. By building this chapel, Hillsdale College has provided that space where students can come to discern God’s calling, to pray through difficult times and to praise God for his faithfulness.”
TIMELESS, LEGACY DESIGN DETAILS
The dedication of Christ Chapel was part of Hillsdale College’s 175th anniversary celebration. Located in the heart of the campus, between the Grewcock Student Union and Dow Leadership Center, the 27,500 square foot building is a new focal point on campus. The interior of the Chapel pays homage to the classic English church, St. Martin-in-the-Fields. The Chapel’s 64-foot painted barrel ceilings, fourteen columns, wooden pews, and arched windows give it a timeless grandeur and beauty. The floor is made up of Italian marble, with brick and limestone making up much of the structure. The entire building demonstrates masonry excellence, even featuring the largest brick, self-supporting dome ever constructed in 50 years.
FUNCTIONAL SPACES
With seating for 1,350 and ample room for large performance ensembles, the Chapel provides Hillsdale with a much-needed venue for college ceremonies and concerts, as well as religious services. Weigand Construction is proud to have been the Construction Manager of such a monumental project, the seventh that has been completed throughout our relationship with Hillsdale College.
THE SPLEX
First renovated and dedicated in 1988, the George Roche Sports Complex was originally the university fieldhouse which was built in 1927. In 2013, Weigand renovated the sports facility once again as a part of Hillsdale’s effort to increase capacity, improve student access, and update the environment.
RENOVATION FEATURES
This restoration, spanning 61,000 square feet, made several additions such as:
- Student Fitness Center
- Full Range of Cardio Machines
- Open Exercise Areas
- Smoothie and Snack Bar
- Golf-Simulator Room
- Rock Climbing Wall
- More Office Space for Men’s and Women’s Sports
- Extra Locker Rooms for Men’s and Women’s Sports
- Sports Hall of Fame
- Basketball Arena
- Basketball and Volleyball Courts
BENEFITTING THE STUDENT BODY
Up until renovations were completed, the college was limited in its space offerings, especially when it came to intramural and fitness activity. By creating more room for both groups to have a place to participate, active students outside of the athletics program are now able to connect and build community in a building that facilitates spaces for their special interests.
The renovation project also brought a full basketball arena to the complex, with generous seating for spectators on multiple levels along all four walls. This has greatly improved the gameday experience for fans and allows more people to attend sporting events.
Weigand is proud to have served Hillsdale College and its students through this restoration project and hopes the George Roche Sports Complex continues to deliver wonderful experiences for fans, fitness enthusiasts, athletes, and more for years to come.
A redevelopment and adaptive re-use of the former General Electric campus in downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana, Electric Works is a mixed-use district of innovation, energy, and culture. Housing local vendors, restaurants, shops, and corporate headquarters for multiple companies, Electric Works includes:
- 39 Acres
- 18 Historic Buildings
- Flex and Corporate Office Space
- STEAM School
- Local Vendors
- Parkview Medical Office Building
- Two-Story Street Market with Bar, Seating, and Restaurants
- 24-Hour Prayer Room
- Conference Hall
- And More
Despite the size and scale of this massive redevelopment project, WCI was careful to preserve legacy and history of the original building. Thanks to this important effort, Electric Works was added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 2023. We are thankful for the chance to give this campus a new purpose to serve generations of families, patrons, and professionals in the Fort Wayne community well into the future.
The Ball State University Music Instruction Building is a massive facility dedicated to all things sonic, being one of two buildings housing the university’s School of Music. Weigand Construction was responsible for taking on the vision of this huge project and bringing it into the real world. The facility features:
- Two Performance Halls
- Teaching Studios
- Recording Studios
- Music Production Lab
- Rehearsal Spaces
- Choral, Orchestral, and Band Offices
- Libraries
- And More
We are proud to have had the opportunity to come alongside Ball State as a partner and see this amazing music building continue to support and enrich students’ learning experience to this very day.
