Amore Restaurant at The Pearl

March 6, 2025 by

Amoré Restaurant is part of The Pearl, a mixed-use development in downtown Fort Wayne. The project required a fully integrated MEP system to support restaurant operations while aligning with the building’s overall infrastructure. R.E. Dimond and Associates provided mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering to meet performance, efficiency, and code requirements.

Consulting Engineers

Architects

Contractor

Mechanical engineering for high-efficiency, high-demand kitchens and dining

Designed an HVAC system to maintain proper temperature, humidity, and ventilation for both dining and kitchen areas.
Engineered dedicated kitchen exhaust and makeup air systems to meet commercial kitchen ventilation codes.
Integrated energy-efficient equipment to minimize operational costs.

The exterior of Amore restaurant in Fort Wayne

Amore Restaurant is part of The Pearl in Fort Wayne

R.E. Dimond and Associates engineers worked to prepare The Pearl during its recent construction.

Electrical engineering to support mission-critical appliances and systems

Designed electrical distribution to support commercial kitchen loads, dining area lighting, and control systems.
Developed a lighting plan that meets functional needs while complying with energy efficiency standards.
Coordinated power requirements for kitchen equipment, refrigeration, and emergency systems.

An interior wall is elegantly lit amid tables and chairs at Amore

Inside Amore at The Pearl

The interior dining room at Amore restaurant in Fort Wayne

Plumbing engineering that improves safety for staff, guests, and building users

Designed water supply and sanitary drainage systems for kitchen, bar, and restrooms.
Engineered grease waste management in compliance with code requirements.
Integrated fire suppression systems per NFPA standards for restaurant and kitchen areas.

R.E. Dimond and Associates designed an MEP system that meets the restaurant’s operational requirements. The system ensures reliable performance, code compliance, and efficient integration with The Pearl’s mixed-use infrastructure.

Revitalization of The Stutz Building

October 6, 2023 by

The new gateway entrace at the Stutz Building

Location: Downtown Indianapolis, Indiana
Total Number of Buildings: 7
Overall Square Footage: 450,000 SF

SomeraRoad, leveraging its innovative approach to urban development, is reimagining The Stutz Building in downtown Indianapolis, endeavoring to infuse life into the historic facility. This project aspires to create a multifunctional hub, integrating elements like the Stutz Car Museum, food & beverage outlets, co-working spaces, artist studios, retail areas, and fitness centers, contributing to a vibrant urban fabric.

A project vision for historic adaptive reuse

This redevelopment is inspired by a vision of historic adaptive reuse, blending unique architecture and rich history to foster an ambiance of authenticity. The project seeks to materialize a modernized, mixed-use urban campus, employing a micro-neighborhood strategy to curate distinctive and enriching spaces.

The Stutz was inspired by projects across the US

Ponce City Market in Atlanta: A historic structure transformed into a vibrant community hub, hosting a diverse array of culinary, retail, and entertainment spaces, reflecting a harmonious blend of historic charm and modern vibrancy.
Industry City in NYC: A reimagined industrial complex, fostering innovation and creativity through a dynamic mix of workspaces, retail, dining, and cultural experiences, reflecting the energy and diversity of urban life.

A century of history behind the Stutz

The Stutz Building serves as a monument of the Stutz Motor Company’s innovative spirit, established in 1911, and has been pivotal in defining Indianapolis’s automotive landscape. The redevelopment seeks to honor and amplify the legacy of this iconic entity.

Engineers and crews tackle significant challenges

General Challenges:

Reconciling the absence of historical information and integrating contemporary enhancements with historical preservation and tenant-centric improvements.
Navigating through financial constraints, development phases, and unforeseen challenges induced by the COVID pandemic.

Specific Challenges:

Plumbing, Fire Protection, and Telecommunications face intricate challenges like modernizing outdated systems, integrating new technologies while maintaining historical value, and ensuring operational continuity amidst extensive renovations.

Three primary goals for the revitalized Stutz

Preservation and Innovation:

Emphasize and maintain the architectural and historical essence of the building while integrating advanced amenities and infrastructures.

Inclusivity and Sustainability:

Develop diverse and inclusive spaces focusing on environmental conservation through energy-efficient systems.

Telecommunications and Operational Goals:

Ensure seamless operation of existing systems and optimize space and functionality in alignment with telecommunications standards and tenant requirements.

The engineering solutions and MEPT scope of work deployed by R.E. Dimond and Associates

Solutions:

Design compact, efficient, and flexible systems, assuring operational continuity and optimizing space and functionality across different engineering domains.

MEPT Scope of Work:

Elevator Design, ADA Upgrades, Centralized HVAC Infrastructure, Electrical Services Enhancement, Plumbing & Central Restrooms Installation.

The revitalization of The Stutz Building stands as a symbol of the harmonious integration of history, technology, and modern lifestyle. Drawing inspiration from iconic projects and driven by a vision of adaptive reuse and authenticity, this project aims to be a beacon of cultural and industrial innovation in Indianapolis, offering a multifaceted urban experience.

The Pearl

November 2, 2022 by

The Pearl is a 35,000-square-foot mixed-use building in the heart of Fort Wayne. Described as a “cornerstone” for one of Indiana’s largest cities, the riverfront development includes an event space, parking, and over 75 apartments for residential living. All within steps of several hotels, restaurants, and other residential and commercial operations.

Greenspace is important to The Pearl with much of the roof set to become part watershed and rain garden and part relaxing park space for residents.

Street-level retail is also included in the project, opening up exciting opportunities for small businesses, offices, restaurants, and retail outlets. The innovative live-work space enables residents to live just above where they work and work just below where they live.

Designed to be seven stories tall, four with apartments and three for retail, an event center will seat about 300 people and be open for tenants and the community.

R.E. Dimond and Associates have helped integrate a powerful water-source heat pump system that, among other things, heats the attached parking garage and efficiently cycles heat around the building.

Sweetwater

May 6, 2015 by

Sweetwater Expansion

CASE STUDY

Read more about Sweetwater in this behind-the-scenes case study. Discover how engineers tackled challenges in tempering a warehouse, reducing noise for employees, and more.

Read the Sweetwater Sound case study

Sweetwater is North America’s largest online music technology and instrument retailer, and is located in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

With Sweetwater’s remarkable growth, came the opportunity to renovate and expand its campus. R.E. Dimond and Associates has worked with Sweetwater since 2012, and recently completed various projects which required a design team of architects, contractors, structural and MEPT engineers to design and build multiple jobs concurrently.

R.E. Dimond and Associates provided the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and technology design for over 1,000,000+ SF of state-of-the-art warehouses, mezzanine, office spaces, cafeteria with a stage, coffee bar, and a 30,000 SF retail expansion. Other areas designed by R.E. Dimond and Associates include acoustically-isolated music laboratories, a marketing addition, Sweetwater University: an on-boarding and training center, and an employee wellness center with locker rooms and salon.

The warehouses require a strict humidity and temperature control design. The mechanical design includes a sequence of operations for humidification and dehumidification control to maintain a year-round set point of 45% relative humidity. A recent site visit observed less than .5 degree temperature variance throughout the facility including from floor to the 40’ ceiling.

As part of the expansion of the new warehouse facility, R.E. Dimond and Associates upgraded Sweetwater’s chilled water plant and designed a seamless redundant fiber ring to maintain 24-hour operations, seven days a week. This outside plant application will help avoid downtime in the data center, accelerate deployment speeds from Sweetwater’s two internet providers, and provide the most advanced voice, data, and video services.

Additionally, R.E. Dimond and Associates designed a generator system to back up the Sweetwater facility to their local electric utility’s advantage. A partnership opportunity emerged during the construction of the distribution facility. Sweetwater had a business need for standby generation in the event of a power outage, and Northeastern REMC had a need to reduce system-wide demand on peak days. Click HERE to learn more about a unique financial partnership between Sweetwater and Northeastern REMC.

Centra Credit Union

May 26, 2020 by

Size 55,000 SF New Construction

Construction Completion 2020

Building Project Summary

Centra Credit Union’s growth required rethinking the practicality of their current space. A decision was made to build a brand new headquarters which triples their working space and will provide flexibility for staff and members.

R.E. Dimond and Associates was challenged to provide a sustainable design with a tight budget and used building modeling to determine options.. The building’s mechanical systems utilize rooftop units, gas boilers, VAV boxes and air handling units with DX cooling.

IU Credit Union

May 26, 2020 by

Size 13,300 SF New Construction

Construction Completion 2020

Building Project Summary

IU Credit Union was looking to expand their Bloomington branch services by offering additional teller stations, private office spaces, a waiting room and plenty of daylight and green technology.

R.E. Dimond and Associates responded to the design request for energy and cost efficiency with a VRF HVAC system with dedicated outside air rooftop air handling equipment including several zones of temperature control. The server room and equipment are protected by means of a clean agent fire protection system and the entire building is backed up on an emergency generator. New domestic hot and cold water service, storm water and sanitary waste connects to the local municipality and electrical design provides power, technology and LED lighting throughout the building.

777 N. Meridian – Indiana Veterans Center

September 14, 2021 by

777 N Meridian Street exterior in Indianapolis

Renovating and modernizing the neoclassical buildings at the Indiana War Memorial Plaza

The American Legion’s national headquarters was originally located on a five block plaza in Indianapolis, Indiana. Built entirely with Indiana limestone, the historic 777 N. Meridian building was included in the headquarters and renovated as part of an Indiana War Memorial Plaza development.

The redevelopment finished in early 2020 when the original American Legion National Headquarters building at 777 N. Meridian reopened as the Indiana Veterans Center.

Overview

Project: Indiana Veteran’s Center
Location: 777 N. Meridian Street, Indianapolis
Client: Indiana War Memorial and State of Indiana
Project size: 34,000 SF
Goal: Renovation and modernization

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Creating a new space for the Indiana Veterans Center in a historic building

The larger War Memorial Plaza project, funded in part by the State of Indiana, introduced new ADA-accessible ramps, restrooms, elevators, and other modern amenities at 777 N. Meridian. The building is now also home to all divisions of the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs.

R.E. Dimond and Associates was challenged to renovate and modernize this historic neoclassical structure with:

Updated and energy efficient heating and air-conditioning
Efficient lighting
Resouce-saving plumbing
Modern, scalable telecommunications to create centralized office space for Indiana’s Veteran Affairs organizations

Modernized to include energy-efficient heating, cooling, lighting, and more

Interior of historic 777 N Meridian Street building — *Men listen to a speaker inside the American Legion Headquarters, ca. 1960*

To achieve the building’s goals, save taxpayers money, and set the building up for long-term success, our teams used innovative techniques and design solutions.

The building utilizes steam and chilled water from Citizens Thermal Energy for building heating and cooling.
Four-pipe fan coil units, piping, electrical and telecommunication systems were concealed in ceiling bulkheads to minimize necessary alterations to the historic building.
Electrical design included new building electrical service and an integrated LED lighting control system for energy savings.
Advanced technology networks provide security, video and intrusion surveillance of the building.
The building also has a fully automatic sprinkler system.

Liberty Fund Headquarters

March 9, 2017 by

Construction Cost
$22,000,000

Size
63,000 SF new construction

Construction Completion
Winter, 2016

Building Project Summary:

R.E. Dimond was proud to be selected to join the design team for Liberty Fund’s new headquarters in Carmel, Indiana, which centers around a library of special collections.

R.E. Dimond provided the MEP design for an energy-efficient geothermal system utilizing water source heat pumps and energy recovery units. Challenges included discovering an unanticipated quantity of on-site limestone when installing the geothermal well field, while an unusually high water table provided additional heat transfer through the underground system. This system uses an estimated 30% less energy than conventional HVAC systems. In addition, a dry chemical fire suppression system protects Liberty Fund’s historical archive of materials.

Electrical services included the design of LED lighting and control systems throughout the building and incorporating standby power and a complete fire alarm system.

Liberty Fund is a non-profit foundation that promotes a deeper understanding of liberty around the world.

Winner of a 2017 Indy Chamber Monumental Award

Amore Restaurant at The Pearl

Mechanical engineering for high-efficiency, high-demand kitchens and dining

Amore Restaurant is part of The Pearl in Fort Wayne

Electrical engineering to support mission-critical appliances and systems

Inside Amore at The Pearl

Plumbing engineering that improves safety for staff, guests, and building users

Revitalization of The Stutz Building

A project vision for historic adaptive reuse

The Stutz was inspired by projects across the US

A century of history behind the Stutz

Engineers and crews tackle significant challenges

Three primary goals for the revitalized Stutz

The engineering solutions and MEPT scope of work deployed by R.E. Dimond and Associates

The Pearl

Sweetwater

Sweetwater Expansion

CASE STUDY

Centra Credit Union

Size 55,000 SF New Construction

Construction Completion 2020

Building Project Summary

IU Credit Union

Size 13,300 SF New Construction

Construction Completion 2020

Building Project Summary

777 N. Meridian – Indiana Veterans Center

Renovating and modernizing the neoclassical buildings at the Indiana War Memorial Plaza

Overview

Creating a new space for the Indiana Veterans Center in a historic building

Modernized to include energy-efficient heating, cooling, lighting, and more

Liberty Fund Headquarters

Our Location

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