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Randolph County Announces Projects Proposed for State Funding Program

Media Contact: Kevin Hannah | 317.602.1546 ext. 3 | kevin@mcfarlandpr.com WINCHESTER, IND. (AUG. 21, 2018) – Today the Eastern Indiana Region delegation announced from the courthouse grounds in Winchester that two key Randolph County projects have been included in the Eastern Indiana region’s submission to earn a Stellar designation from the Indiana Regional Stellar Communities Program. The East Greenville Pike project in Winchester, and the Back Lofts apartments and training center in Union City, were both listed as projects in the regional submission. The full submission included projects from Fayette, Rush, Wayne and Union counties as well. Chief Executive Officer of the Randolph County Economic Development Corporation Greg Beumer announced inclusion of the East Greenville Pike project, which will focus on approximately two miles of the roadway starting at the Winchester city limits and heading southeast, making transportation safer for the traveling public. City Manager of Union City Monte Poling announced the inclusion of the Backstay Loft Apartments project. This project will convert an old industrial building into approximately 40 new apartments and workforce training space. [Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”39″ gal_title=”Stellar – Randolph County”] “While OCRA’s Regional Stellar Program is, in theory, a competition, we in Eastern Indiana view it as another way to assist us in the journey towards being better able to work together on the many common challenges that face us from day to day,” said Jeff Plasterer, executive director of the Eastern Indiana Regional Planning Commission. “This application process has allowed us to strengthen the way we communicate, plan, and assist each other on a regular and ongoing basis to improve our recruitment, retention, and development of a qualified workforce through improvements to our Region’s quality of place.” If the Eastern Indiana Region’s submission is selected as one of two recipients in the Stellar Communities Program, funding could be available for the submitted plans. The Eastern Indiana Region is one of six finalist for this year’s regional Stellar Communities Program. The Eastern Indiana Region’s comprehensive regional development plan was developed with input from each county’s residents, businesses and organizations to address quality of life, workforce, housing, health, wellness and economic development projects. “This process has strengthened our regional partnership and ensures its continuation throughout the years,” said Mike Row, chief executive officer of Eastern Indiana Works. The Indiana Regional Stellar Communities Program promotes regionalism by design with a comprehensive community and economic development approach through a multi-year, multi-million investment initiative. The Regional Stellar Communities Program is led by the Indiana Lieutenant Governor’s office and is funded by three state agencies: the Indiana Housing and Community Economic Development Authority, the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs and the Indiana Department of Transportation. Other State Partners in the program are: Indiana Department of Tourism, Indiana State Department of Health, The Indiana Bond Bank, Serve Indiana, Indiana Arts Commission and Indiana Department of Natural Resources ###

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The New Buzz on the Street: RQAW Introduces Headquarters to Community

RQAW | DCCM NEWS / rachelmatthews

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”35″ gal_title=”RQAW Open House”] The anticipation was building as the day of the ribbon cutting/open house grew closer and closer. Suddenly, the building came together—signage was up, sidewalks were usable, trees were planted, and lights were hung. When the day had finally arrived, the crowd was buzzing as the new RQAW Headquarters opened its doors for the first time to the public. Family members, friends, employees, and county and city officials were in attendance to watch Mayor Scott Fadness, Troy Woodruff, and Brad Battin cut the ceremonial ribbon. Afterwards, proud employees gave tours to curious attendees. The new headquarters resembles not only the path that RQAW took to get here, but also the direction that it is going. There is a continuous growth within the company—creating more jobs and more opportunities. Moving to Fishers was no simple task, but employees couldn’t be happier or more excited that they are finally here. RQAW looks forward to embracing the City of Fishers and all it has to offer: the vibrant community of new people we will meet, the ambiance and local flair of the Nickel Plate District, and new and endless opportunities right outside our doorstep.

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Vanderburgh County Commissioners consider five options for jail expansion

RQAW | DCCM NEWS / rachelmatthews

There is not yet an answer, but now there are plans to combat overcrowding at the Vanderburgh County Jail. Commissioners met Wednesday to comb over a study by RQAW Architecture that lays out five different options for jail expansion. According to Vanderburgh County Commissioner Cheryl Musgrave, progress was made. “We had a great deal more numbers to look at and options presented to us. Enough options that we were able to focus in – laser focus—on really what we need and that’s the financing pieces, is what we need more information on.” The expansion plans in the study are listed as options “A” through “E” and range from a 300-bed one-pod addition at $23.7 million dollars – to a 900 bed three-pod addition at $60.8 million dollars. Several of the expansion options include a “shell” – which is a pod that would be built in anticipation of future increased inmate population, and could be finished when needed. A shell would accomplish the need to plan for the future overcrowding, without draining resources immediately. The county can currently afford a 300 bed addition comfortably, but need was estimated at 900 to 1,200 additional beds at earlier meetings. According to Sheriff Dave Wedding, 300 is not enough. “I don’t think 300 would be adequate with 850 inmates.” The commissioners also discussed options besides expansion to relieve the overcrowding– including adding more judges, courtrooms and prosecutors to speed up court process and reduce inmate headcount. The study found that the county’s average daily population is already one of the lowest in the state at 19. A proposed project schedule begins September of this year, with an August 2019 construction start date. The plan targets March 2022 for project completion. For now, commissioners want to continue to crunch numbers — and hear from the state regarding financial considerations. “$30, $35 dollars a day does not pay for us keeping Indiana State convicted prisoners. How can we factor our cost when we don’t know what they’re going to do?” Pressure from inmate overcrowding has been building forcing the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s office to consider temporary measures to relieve the strain on the system. As 700 inmates remain behind bars at the 500-bed facility – many have been transferred to other facilities to ease crowding. To read the complete plan proposal, click here. Read original story from the Tristate Homepage here.

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Top Workplaces 2018: Company rankings and awards

RQAW | DCCM NEWS / rachelmatthews

These employers were recognized by the Top Workplaces 2018 employee survey conducted by Energage, working in partnership with IndyStar. For more information, go to IndyStar.com. Top large companies 1. Keller Williams Indy Metro 2. Crew Carwash 3. ERMCO 4. Monarch Beverage 5. Charles Schwab 6. Ricker Oil 7. Fifth Third Bank 8. Comcast 9. RCI 10. White Castle 11. Aldi 12. Witham Health Services 13. Clark-Pleasant Community Schools 14. Protective Insurance 15. Freedom Mortgage Top midsize companies 1. Van Rooy 2. Insights Consulting 3. Royal United Mortgage 4. First Internet Bank 5. BSA LifeStructures 6. Crowe Horwath 7. Tendercare Home Health Service 8. Opportunities for Positive Growth 9. Northwestern Mutual 10. HomeAdvisor 11. Dauby O’Connor & Zaleski 12. Key Benefit Administrators 13. Bose McKinney & Evans 14. Fusion Alliance 15. Indiana Members Credit Union 16. Taft Stettinius & Hollister 17. Edwards Electrical & Mechanical 18. Orchard Software Corp. 19. Bill Estes Automotive Group 20. Renewal by Andersen of Indiana 21. Seven Corners 22. Williams Comfort Air 23. DWA Healthcare Communications Group 24. MOBI Wireless Management 25. Reynolds Farm Equipment Small companies 1. Vaco Indianapolis 2. Hare Honda 3. Bailey and Wood Financial Group 4. Indesign 5. BGBC Partners 6. Terry Lee Hyundai 7. Covenant Christian High School 8. Software Engineering Professionals 9. Dawes Fretzin Dermatology Group 10. Express Employment Professionals 11. Integration Partners 12. Pondurance 13. R&R Plumbing 14. Scopelitis Garvin Light Hanson & Feary 15. Blue Horseshoe 16. Peterman Heating Cooling & Plumbing 17. Hensley Legal Group 18. Chapman Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing 19. RQAW 20. TEKsystems 21. American Income Life — Indiana 22. Student Connections 23. Indiana Donor Network 24. Meyer Najem 25. PERQ 26. One Click Ventures 27. Central Restaurant Products 28. Towne Park Ltd. 29. Aerotek 30. PITT OHIO 31. MS Inspection & Logistics 32. Lewis Wagner 33. Quality Mill Supply 34. Nelbud Services Group 35. Knowledge Services 36. Mister Quik Home Services 37. Johnson Melloh 38. First Databank 39. Brooksource 40. Northview Church 41. NOW Courier 42. Manheim Indianapolis 43. Haggard & Stocking Associates 44. Indiana Health Information Exchange 45. Octiv 46. Engaging Solutions 47. Arbor Homes 48. Total Quality Logistics 49. Unique Home Solutions 50. Interactions How we compiled our rankings: Behind the Top Workplaces 2018 survey Top Workplaces 2018. Special awards These awards were based on standout scores for specific survey statements. Employees rated criteria — such as “I have confidence in the leadership of this company” — on a seven-point scale from strongly disagree to strongly agree. LEADERSHIP Criteria: I have confidence in the leadership of my company. Winners Large: Billy Schaming, Crew Carwash Midsize: David Becker, First Internet Bank Small: Terry Lee, Hare Honda DIRECTION Criteria: I believe this company is going in the right direction. Winner: Van Rooy Cos. MANAGERS Criteria: My manager helps me learn and grow. My manager makes it easier to do my job well. My manager cares about my concerns. Winner: Keller Williams Indy Metro NEW IDEAS Criteria: New ideas are encouraged at this company. Winner: Vaco Indianapolis DOERS Criteria: At this company, we do things efficiently and well. Winner: Royal United Mortgage MEANINGFULNESS Criteria: My job makes me feel as I am part of something meaningful. Winner: Indiana Donor Network ETHICS Criteria: This company operates by strong values and ethics. Winner: Charles Schwab CLUED-IN SENIOR MANAGEMENT Criteria: Senior managers understand what is really happening at this company. Winner: Insights Consulting COMMMUNICATION Criteria: I feel well-informed about important decisions at this company. Winner: Indesign APPRECIATION Criteria: I feel genuinely appreciated at this company. Winner: Opportunities for Positive Growth WORK/LIFE FLEXIBILITY Criteria: I have the flexibility I need to balance my work and personal life. Winner: BSA LifeStructures TRAINING Criteria: I get the formal training I want for my career. Winner: ERMCO BENEFITS Criteria: My benefits package is good compared to others in this industry. Winner: Blue Horsehoe Read the original article from the Indy Star here.

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7 developments are adding vibrancy to downtown Fishers

RQAW | DCCM NEWS / rachelmatthews

Ten years ago the Fishers municipal complex was an archipelago of government buildings surrounded by vast open space on all sides. Today, the City Hall campus is wedged behind two multistory apartment buildings and, soon, two office buildings. In addition, three new office buildings have been built just east of City Hall on North Street, a new police station is under construction on the municipal campus, and the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater on the lawn is being expanded. The area is just the way Mayor Scott Fadness planned it: dense. “What started as an investment in creating downtown vibrancy through the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater several years ago is quickly growing into a destination for business, bringing investment and jobs to our city,” said Fadness, adding that he wants the municipal complex “to be a robust and vibrant center of business.” While most of the recent economic expansion has focused on the I-69 and 116th Street intersection developments of Ikea, Topgolf and Portillo’s, the downtown core, known as the Nickel Plate District, has been humming along with construction cranes, earth movers and dump trucks for several years. Four years ago the Depot and the Switch opened on 116th Street, with hundreds of apartments above and stores and restaurants on the first floors. Now, the city has announced that the last available parcels on the municipal “ellipse,” the egg-shaped drive that circles the municipal complex, will be developed. Here are seven projects at or around the municipal complex that have reshaped this part of the Nickel Plate District. 1. A four-story office building will be built behind City Hall where a parking lot is now located. BW Development, of [Fishers, Indiana], plans 45,000 square feet of office space on the 1.76-acre city-owned parcel. The city is providing the developer with a 10-year tax abatement. BW plans to break ground this fall. 2. Flexware Innovation plans an office building next to the BW development. The $3.5 million corporate headquarters will have 24,000 square feet of office space. Flexware, which is moving from its current location on Technology Drive, plans to use half of the offices for itself and lease out the other half. Flexware has been in Fishers for 21 years. It will break ground this fall. 3. 1 North is part of a $45 million residential, office and retail development with 224 apartments and 13 combination units that are both apartment and storefront. Located on North and Lantern streets, the development also includes a multistory public parking garage for 500 cars. The apartments will be studios and one- and two-bedroom units. The developer, Envoy, of Indianapolis, expects IT professionals, software engineers, attorneys and real-estate brokers to move into the live/work spots. 4. A new headquarters for the engineering and architecture firm RQAW Corp., Indianapolis, is the corporate component of the 1 North project, which is collectively known as North of North. RQAW will occupy half of the 30,000-square-foot building and lease the rest. 5. Braden Business Systems built a new headquarters west of 1 North on a parcel owned by the city. The $8 million, 35,000-square-foot office building opened in October. It houses the company’s sales, administration, accounting and IT divisions and is also the site for technology demonstrations. The company operates on the top two floors of the building, and the city will sublease 15,000 square feet of space on the lower two floors. Braden moved from Keystone Avenue and 96th Street in Indianapolis. 6. The city is building a three-story police station, along with a 240-car garage, on Municipal Plaza. The estimated cost is $14 million. The buildings will be next to the current station, which will be refurbished and used for other city offices. 7. The Nickel Plate District Amphitheater and the lawn behind City Hall are being reconstructed at a cost of $6 million. The makeover includes a 1,700-square-foot pavilion to be built halfway back on the lawn. The building will have public meeting rooms and bathrooms. Behind the pavilion will be a concrete platform with a 24-jet fountain. The stage will be enlarged by 24 feet with bigger attached bathrooms to accommodate larger acts and more equipment. The sound and lighting is also being improved. Read the original story from the Indy Star here.

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Fishers reveals plans for 45,000-square-foot downtown office building

RQAW | DCCM NEWS / rachelmatthews

The city of Fishers on Monday announced development plans for the final piece of vacant city-owned land near the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater. An office building of up to 45,000 square feet will be constructed on the east side of the northern ellipse of Municipal Drive, Fishers officials said. Developer BW Development LLC plans to spend $10 million on the four-story building, and construction is expected to start this fall. The city of Fishers plans to support the project with a 10-year, $1 million tax abatement, pending city council approval. Fishers said companies that will move operations into the building will be announced at a later date. Broker Rich Forslund, executive vice president at the Indianapolis office of Colliers International, is in charge of leasing for the project. Last fall, the city issued a request for proposals for projects at the 1.8-acre site that would complement its outdoor amphitheater. Last month, the city announced Flexware Innovations would build a 24,000 square-foot building on the west side of the ellipse. “What started as an investment in creating downtown vibrancy through the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater several years ago is quickly growing into a destination for business, bringing investment and jobs to our city,” Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness said in written comments. “The addition of this building completes the vision for the Municipal Complex to be a robust and vibrant center of business for our city, and we look forward to welcoming innovative companies to locate here.” The parcel will include build-to-suit office space for companies looking to expand or move to Fishers’ business community. The developer also will construct a public parking lot that will be free and open to the public after 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and during weekends. Fishers-based BW Development is a sister company to Indianapolis-based engineering and architectural consulting firm RQAW Corp. “The vibrant business climate in Fishers continues to draw growing companies, and we’re thrilled to bring this project to fruition in the heart of this downtown,” BW Development co-owner Brad Battin said in written comments. Officials say downtown Fishers has seen $340 million in commercial and residential investment since 2015. Read the original article from the IBJ here.

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A New Plan

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GREENFIELD — Representatives from the consulting firm, RQAW, who are working with county leaders to design a new jail, this week unveiled renderings of what the facility might look like on a new construction site located just south of the current jail. Officials learned earlier this month that the original proposed site of the new jail building — a parking lot located between the current facility at 123 E. Main St. and the county’s community corrections building — wasn’t feasible to build on. They’ve crafted a new proposal, one they say would put the project right at the $55 million price tag local leaders had been hoping to avoid and would force five local families from their homes. Building a new jail is part of a multi-million dollar plan to help alleviate overcrowding in the current jail, provide more mental health services to inmates, increase jail staffing and renovate existing county criminal justice buildings. Hancock County residents will vote on a referendum on May 8 asking if the county can increase property taxes to help pay for the project. A geological survey conducted recently on the originally proposed site showed poor soil conditions and a high water table — issues that could lead to flooding problems, especially because project plans call for the new jail to have a basement, project manager Sanjay Patel said. So, RQAW went back to the drawing board. And this week, during a joint meeting of the Hancock County Council and the board of commissioners, they revealed a backup plan that calls for constructing the new jail on a site just south of the current facility. The property is located at the corner of Meek and South streets in Greenfield, to the east of the courthouse annex and north of the Pennsy Trail. Five houses currently sit on the site, and the county would need to purchase and demolish them in order to put the jail there. Patel said the process would likely put the project right at its proposed $55 million price tag. The three-member board of commissioners had hoped that $55-million price tag would be a “worst case scenario.” They’ve hoped that after further design and planning, the project would prove to be less expensive. But the alternative site — which has undergone soil testing showing it’s a good building option — meets the county’s needs, and acquiring it to build upon someway, someday has always been part of the county’s master plan, Commissioner Brad Armstrong said. He and his fellow board members have had preliminary conversations with several of the homeowners who would be impacted, and they seem willing — even glad — to cooperate, he said. This week, Patel showed county leaders renderings of what the interior and exterior of the new jail, on its new site, would look like. He also presented drawings of what renovations and remodeling would take place in the county’s existing criminal justice facilities. The outline for what renovations would occur to the county’s existing buildings has remained consistent. The probation department, which is currently housed in the courthouse, would move into the existing sheriff’s department administrative offices, located in the basement and a wing of the existing jail. Hancock County Community Corrections would move into the inmate-housing side of the current jail, giving that department the space it needs to expand and house about 50 more individuals. The prosecutor’s office would be moved into the existing community corrections building — a change from the proposal that consultants say is more cost-effective. Originally, plans called for the prosecutor’s office to move into the first floor of the courthouse (where the probation department is currently housed). But there wasn’t enough square footage there to allow for future growth of the prosecutor’s office, Patel said, so the designers made an adjustment. This frees up space in the courthouse for the creation of a fourth court, should one be added in the future, he said. The new jail on its new site would still house 435 inmates; but it would now consist of a shorter, broader building rather than the seven-story inmate-housing tower that was originally proposed, meaning it’s “not quite as prominent” as what the original building would have been, Patel said. The front half of the structure would stand two stories tall — the same height as the courthouse annex — and would have room for the sheriff’s department’s administrative offices on one floor and the book-in and medical areas of the jail on the other, Patel said. The back of the building would stand four stories tall and would consist entirely of inmate housing, Patel said. Two, two-story pods (each with two-level cellblocks) would stack on top of one another, keeping the capacity at 435, as originally proposed. The tower’s tallest point would be 60 feet high. By comparison, the Hancock County Courthouse, which would sit a block away, stands more than 100 feet tall, officials said. The lower-level pod would be designed to house inmates who are in recovery, Patel said. The cellblocks would have a more dormitory-like style, and there would be classrooms and meeting areas that inmates and counselors could utilize. The upper-level pod would house the maximum security inmates, those who need punishment rather than assistance. The new jail would also have a basement that would consist of a kitchen, laundry facility and various storage, Patel said. The building could still be structured so that future county leaders could add a third pod to the top and increase jail capacity even more, should it be needed one day. Because the county is still in the planning stages, the designs Patel presented this week aren’t set in stone, he said; it’s a plan his team came up with that can be adjusted and changed. They hope to have final renderings in the coming weeks. But county leaders seemed supportive of RQAW’s new proposal. Council members Jeannine Gray and Bill Bolander both remarked during the meeting that they preferred the alternative plan to the

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RQAW Proud to Serve Greenfield Fire Station 22

Leave a Comment / RQAW | DCCM NEWS / rachelmatthews

GREENFIELD, IND— The Greenfield Community came together to celebrate the opening of the newly remodeled Greenfield Fire Station 22. The event was held on April 7 at 2:00 p.m. RQAW was proud to serve as the architects of the addition and renovation, especially since they were the original designers in 1990. The existing facility was converted into offices and training facilities, while the addition serves primarily as the living quarters. There is also a museum that displays two antique fire trucks and various memorabilia. Jason Horning, Greenfield Deputy Chief of Operations, expressed gratitude toward RQAW and the architects that worked on the project. “The opportunities for buildings like this for firefighters, especially our guys, are few and far between so it has been a big deal for them,” he stated. RQAW would like to thank the Greenfield Community for giving them the opportunity to serve those who keep the community safe.

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RQAW | DCCM NEWS

One partner from initial design to final inspection.