Construction to renovate the E.S. Weiant Center will begin this spring.

After years of preparation and planning, the renovation of the 51-year-old E.S. Weiant Center is scheduled to begin this spring.

When construction begins, the Licking County Board of Developmental Disabilities will temporarily relocate its administrative offices, as well as its Early Childhood, Employment Supports and Provider Relations departments.

The temporary location will be on the second floor of the Newark Commerce Center, located at 195 Union St., Newark, Ohio.

LCBDD’s service coordination office will remain open, at 565 Industrial Parkway, Heath, throughout the construction process.

All individuals and families supported by the board will receive information by mail, and electronically, in the next few weeks about the temporary location.

Built in 1966, the E.S. Weiant Center has never had a major infrastructure upgrade. The most recent updates to the building were to the HVAC systems in the 1990s.

Over several years of planning, it was determined that the most cost-effective option was to renovate the existing building, preserving a facility that holds significant memories for many local families.

This project has a $4.5 million construction budget and an estimated total cost of $6 million, which includes the construction/renovation costs, associated professionals fees, furnishings and technology upgrades. Parking will be expanded and former school rooms will be converted into more effective office and meeting space.

This project will not require LCBDD to seek additional levy funding.

When the project is completed, LCBDD’s service coordination department will relocate to the E.S. Weiant Center, bringing the entire organization under one roof. This will allow the agency to better serve the community and focus more resources on the people we support.

For more information about this exciting project, keep an eye on this page and social media pages for updates.