RENOVATIONS AT WEISSER PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BEGAN IN THE SPRING OF 2015 AND Were COMPLETED in the SUMMER of 2016. WORK INCLUDED BOTH EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE FACILITY, WHICH OPENED as a middle school IN 1964 and was later converted to an elementary in 1980. THE PREVIOUS RENOVATIONS TO CHANGE THE FUNCTION OF WEISSER PARK FROM A MIDDLE SCHOOL TO AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL INCLUDED VERY MINOR UPDATES TO ACCOMMODATE THE ELEMENTARY PROGRAM.
The new entrance provides office staff with clear views of visitors approaching the building and a secure vestibule entry. Upon entering the building, the inner vestibule doors remain locked, requiring visitors to enter into the main office prior to being allowed access to the rest of the building. All new doors also include security locksets allowing for faster, safer locking procedures in the event of an emergency.
as with all of the projects included in the repair fwcs program, one of the main goals of the renovation is the replacement of failing infrastructure that has reached the end of its useful life. weisser park already had newer central boilers, however the distribution piping throughout the building had never been replaced and unit heaters in the rooms were regularly in need of repair. all of the old piping was removed and replaced, and quieter, more efficient unit ventilators were installed in each room.
Prior to the renovation, Weisser Park did not have air conditioning. With the upgrades to the heating system, a new central chiller and cooling has been added to fully air condition the building. This provides a comfortable, consistent climate for the students and staff regardless of the outside temperature conditions.
in addition to the heating and cooling, electrical and lighting systems were alsoreplaced. old, inefficient florescent lighting was replaced with new led lighting. this both saves in overall energy usage costs, and provides clean, brighter lighting. suspending ceiling systems was replaced and the walls have been repainted with fresh, bright colors.
Corridors have not only benefited from new ceilings and paint, but the original terrazzo floors were polished with a high-gloss, no wax finish which cuts down on maintenance costs. Lockers were repainted and new tackable surfaces were installed to display student work. In the main photo, you can clearly see the difference between renovated and non-renovated areas as you look down the length of the corridor.
Plumbing fixtures and toilet partitions and accessories were replaced in all restrooms and new drinking fountains have been installed throughout the building. Some fountains have been equipped with bottle fillers allowing both staff and students to easily fill drinking water bottles.
Classrooms benefit from new vertical unit ventilators for heating and cooling. these units run more quietly, are more efficient, and take up less floor space than the horizontal units which were replaced. New ceilings and lighting replaced t-12 lighting fixtures, for which replacement bulbs are no longer produced. walls were painted and flooring was replaced. new teaching aids such as marker and tackboards and full building wifi accessibility will complete the learning environment. TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES AND MODERN TEACHING SUPPORTS ARE ALSO A COMPONENT OF THE REPAIR PROJECTS. CHALKBOARDS WERE REPLACED WITH DUST-FREE MARKERBOARDS AND OVERHEAD PROJECTORS AND PROJECTION SCREENS WERE INSTALLED IN EVERY CLASSROOM.
The renovations at Weisser Park Elementary School, along with full renovations at 9 other school buildings, the addition of chillers at 6 additional buildings, window replacements at 8 additional buildings and partial roof replacements at 27 buildings was made possible by the support of our community. THANK YOU FORT WAYNE!
For more information on the REPAIR FWCS program, please visit us at