Industry Axis

In a May 26, 2015 The New York Times article titled “A House of Worship, Converted",  Andrew Keh describes the resurgence of minor league baseball in South Bend, Indiana.  The focus of the article is the conversion of a Jewish Synagogue into the South Bend Cubs team store.  It is a fun article and a great example of repurposing an existing building.

Contained in the article is another story, the construction of the team training facility that is behind right field in the articles' photos.  This typical looking building is not really typical at all.  It took the creative engineering skill of the Needham DBS staff in Fort Wayne to "pull one out" in the bottom of the ninth.  When a major pre-engineered building company had to back out the contract for this building due to their delivery problems, Ancon Construction of Goshen, Indiana, called on Needham DBS in the ninth to "pitch hit".   And boy did they!

There was excitement and anticipation for the ribbon cutting and grand opening of The Andersons new $54 million Corporate Headquarters in Maumee, Ohio. On October 3, 2016, the wait was over and The Andersons opened the doors to their 128,000 square foot facility. The building emphasizes openness with exposed structural steel members and a large open interior atrium space with an expanse of natural light. The open atrium space was a main design feature that allows better collaboration and interaction between the various divisions within the company. The building also features expansive windows, cantilevered conference rooms into the main atrium space, trading pits and a boardroom with outdoor patio. A common theme utilized in the building was agricultural features such as the use of lighting made from sections of corrugated steel grain silo and reclaimed wood.

Needham DBS was chosen as Engineer of Record after successfully completing work on another Headquarters office with the same architect. Needham DBS worked with the client and the architect, The Collaborative, Inc. to design an expressive open building that integrates the exposed structural steel framing and bracing into the building architecture. Needham DBS created a 3D Revit structural model that was then integrated into the architectural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing models to provide better coordination, a smoother transition and efficiency in the design, detailing and construction process.