FORT WAYNE, Ind. — A construction milestone is coming up for the newest industrial building in Fort Wayne’s Airport District. HardHell Industries will celebrate the “topping out” of a $5.4 million shell building at 4455 Airway Ave. in Fort Wayne. Crews will hoist into place the final beam of the building’s structure tomorrow (Tuesday, Jan. 10) at 9:30 a.m.
Shell buildings, typically constructed without a specific tenant in mind, are designed to help businesses scale up quickly. Instead of going through the time-consuming process of acquiring land and building from scratch, the prospective tenant can lease an already-standing shell building, customize it, and quickly get up and running.
“As we recruit companies to come to Allen County, shell buildings provide our community with another competitive advantage,” said Ellen Cutter, chief economic development officer at GFW Inc. “The speed to market that comes with a shell building, in a growing community like ours, is just the type of situation many site selectors and business leaders are seeking. This project will help keep us ahead of the pack.”
The 52,000-square-foot facility will be expandable up to 117,000 square feet. The site is zoned for general industrial use (I2).
“The size of this building fills a need in our market, and it’s a great fit for growing businesses that need flexibility,” HardHell Industries co-owner Jeff Harding said. “We hope this will be the first of many buildings that we will construct to help change the landscape and skyline of Fort Wayne for the better.”
The name “HardHell Industries” is a combination of the company’s owners’ last names: Jeff Harding and Ryan Hellinger. Hellinger is also president of CME Corporation, which will serve as the builder on the project and will co-host the event.
“CME Corporation is honored to be a part of this project with HardHell Industries,” Hellinger said. ”CME has been committed to Fort Wayne and northeast Indiana’s growth for the last 50 years and we are excited to partner with a firm that feels the same passion for our city’s future.”
After the topping out, crews will continue working to complete the building envelope.
The celebration is open to the public. Following the ceremony, guests are invited to enjoy donuts and coffee.
About CME Corporation
CME Corporation has been in business for over 50 years, and has built a reputation for honesty and integrity. From our start in 1972 until today, CME continues to complete projects of all sizes and levels of complexity, but one thing CME has never changed is our sense of commitment and respect for our team, our work and our customers. Learn more at cmebuilditright.com.
About Greater Fort Wayne Inc.
Greater Fort Wayne (GFW) Inc. serves Fort Wayne and Allen County, Indiana, as its primary point of contact for economic growth. GFW Inc. focuses on prosperity and community vibrancy through economic development, advocacy, programs, and resources that support business success, leadership development, graduate retention, and community engagement. To learn more, visit gfwinc.com.
