November, 2007

Central's weekend of activities celebrating the completion of our building project was a great success!

Thursday, October 11 featured an Art Reveal to unveil a series of oil and canvas murals by artist Robert L. Barnum. The work is entitled "Struggle and Security" and covers over 2,300 square feet of the new "Commons" building. The spacious Commons is a place where employees can gather together to celebrate, entertain, and relax and enjoy each others company.

Friday, October 12 was the official Dedication and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. Employees, retirees, agents, and industry and local guests attended the event and enjoyed tours and a luncheon.

Saturday was a day set aside for employees and their families to tour the facilities and Sunday, October 14 was a grand Open House with tours, refreshments and gifts for the public. Several thousand visitors came to enjoy the weekend activities.

October, 2007

It's finished!

October 11 - 14 marks the dedication and open house activities celebrating the completion of Central's building and renovation project. Open House and Tours for the public are planned for Sunday, October 14 from 12:00 noon to 5:00 PM at 800 South Washington Street, Van Wert, OH.

Thursday, October 11 is the unveiling of a mural by artist Robert L. Barnum. Composed of multiple 10' x 30' panels, the oil on canvas creation will be a focal point in the new Commons building. The murals represent almost 2,300 square feet of two-dimensional artwork. Barnum was asked to create the murals to provide a thought provoking atmosphere for Central's employees and to aid the regions awareness of public art. With these impressive murals, Barnum has captured the struggle and challenge associated with property & casualty insurance.

Formal dedication ceremonies are scheduled for Friday, October 12. Saturday is reserved for Central employees and their families to tour the facility.

The architecture of the new building reflects Central's history in the use of materials and expression. President F.W. Purmort stated, "Our forefathers had a great vision and they set the standard for quality and excellence. We want to carry that over to our project." The new facilities are designed to accommodate 25 years of growth.

August, 2007

Changes can be seen daily on the east side of the campus just outside the Commons. There is lots of digging and moving of dirt for tiered landscaping, the installation of sidewalks and parking areas, and the installation of watering systems and planting of trees and shrubs. Additional flowerbeds are being dug for a variety of flowers and plants along the creek bank. Most of the grass areas to the east of the Commons area will be covered with sod rather than seeded.

Two small "courtyards" on the southeast and southwest of the buildings are landscaped and planted and will feature attractive lighted areas. Two additional courtyards will be constructed to the northeast and northwest sides of the buildings.

The area housing the museum has been expanded to add an additional 1200 square feet for display. New display cases will be installed and planning is underway to schedule the return of museum artifacts that are currently in storage at a secure site in Cincinnati.

June/July, 2007

The dry weather continues and has allowed for good progress on the building construction and landscaping. It has also created some challenges for watering new grass, trees and shrubs.

Renovation of Colonial Hall (the original 1931 building) continues inside the building with piping for new heating and air conditioning systems being installed. Outside, the front of Colonial Hall is undergoing renovation with new entry columns, a new front drive, new curbs, and brick pavers around the circle drive.

The last building to be demolished was the brick garage and storage area at the Northeast corner of the building. The entire area between the Commons and the creek is now being prepared for sidewalks, parking areas and final landscaping.

May, 2007

Spring weather has allowed outside work and landscaping to move forward. New sidewalks are in place at the northwest corner of the campus and many new trees have been planted along the walkways. The north parking lot is near completion and needs just a final coat of asphalt.

The front drive and circle drive is being completely redone. The asphalt and some curbing were in need of repair. New paver bricks will be installed in the circle drive.

The slate roof on the '31 Colonial Hall has been completed. The original '31 slate was reused and placed back on the west facing section. Colonial Hall is now being completely renovated with new heating and air conditioning. The original chandeliers that hung throughout the building have been sent offsite to be rewired and replated and will be placed back in the building.

Construction on the Commons building is progressing with brickwork nearly completed on the outside and plastering and finishing work underway on the inside. Pillars have been set on the third floor balcony level adding a beautiful colonial look to the Commons.

April, 2007

Another milestone has been reached. All employees who were "displaced" from their work stations for the remodeling of the '76 building (Centennial Hall) have returned! However, we now have more "refugees" as employees who were in the '31 building (Colonial Hall) have temporarily moved for remodeling and renovation. This will be the last employee move for 5 months until remodeling is complete and they return to their '31 locations.

Renovation in Colonial Hall will be a challenage as they begin the conversion to an entirely new heating and air conditioning system.

Construction of new parking lots and driveways have begun on the north side of the campus. Parking spaces will be available to the north, northwest and northeast of Heritage Hall (the new north building).

The two brick columns at the main entryway at South Washington are going to be torn down and repositioned. The original steel lanterns that were used in '31 were located and will be repaired and installed on the columns.

March, 2007

Employees have more and more access to the new facilities as stairways are opened and remodeling is completed on parts of the 1976 Centennial Hall. Many employees are now moving into their new permanent workstations.

In Mid-May, renovation of the original 1931 Colonial Hall will begin. Much of the work will be behind the walls with replacement of heating and cooling, plumbing, and electrical systems. There will also be restoration and repair to some of the beautiful features inside Colonial Hall including carved ceilings, chandeliers, marble stairways, wood paneling, and others.

Demolition of the old Elks building is underway and landscaping will soon begin at the front of the grounds.

February, 2007

In spite of blizzard conditions and extreme cold in mid-February the construction continued on the new Commons building. Most of the building is enclosed and the last major cement pour was completed. Renovations on the 1975 building (Centennial Hall) are nearing completion. Furniture is being delivered anticipating moving people back into the building the end of March through mid-April.

Maintenance and Printing Department will be moving to their permanent locations in Centennial Hall in mid-March.

Plans are being finalized for the move out of the 1931 building (Colonial Hall). The building will undergo major heating and air conditioning renovations and general repairs.

January, 2007

All the windows have been replaced in the 1976 building (Centennial Hall) and remodeling continues inside. The need for our employees to remain flexible continues as the paths to gain access from one building to the other keep changing. We're all getting our exercise!

Construction is now moving to the original 1931 structure (Colonial Hall). Progress has begun for the redesign and construction of the museum. We will be adding 1200 square feet to the museum.

The front lobby entrance is now closed. Access points for the public to enter the buildings are on the northwest and southeast corners of the buildings.

December, 2006

The buildings on our campus have recently been named to reflect Central's history and identity:

• Colonial Hall - The front building constructed in 1931 has been named "Colonial Hall" to reflect the Georgian Colonial architecture.
• Centennial Hall - The middle building has been named "Centennial Hall" reflecting its construction 100 years after our company began in 1876.
• Heritage Hall - The new addition to the north has been named "Heritage Hall" for the importance we place on building upon our history and our tradition.
• Independence Hall - The new south building has been named "Independence Hall" in recognition of our strong association with and support of the Independent Agency system.
• The Commons - The new building to the back has been named "The Commons" and houses our break room, reception and banquet areas, and training facilities.

November, 2006

Although not much change can be seen from the outside of the building, major renovation of the 1975 building continues inside. Remodeling is on schedule to move employees back into the building in late Spring.

Typical November weather brought heavy rains one week and beautiful warm weather the next as construction on the Commons area continues. Interior steel flooring is currently being installed.

October, 2006

A small bit of Central history was removed during construction as an old basement coal bin on the south side of the 1931 building was demolished. It didn't surrender easily as backhoes, jackhammers, and concrete saws worked for several days to remove the concrete and steel and fill in the hole.

Overall, the construction project remains on schedule. November rains have arrived in October and have caused a bit of delay in landscaping progress and the completion of surfacing and striping the east parking lot.

September, 2006

For the most part, employees are settled in to the new (for some employees - temporary) offices and work areas. The noise and dust has been noticeable but manageable as progress continues at full speed on the demolition of the Information Technology building and remodeling throughout the 1975 building. There's never a boring moment with new conference and meeting rooms to locate, temporary hallways, new fire and weather evacuation routes, and interesting projects popping up outside every window.

Irrigation work on the East, South and Southwest lawn areas has been completed. With the cooperation of timely rains and sunshine, the new grass seeded between the creek and south drive came up in a week's time. Seeding, placing of sod, and planting in the lawn areas between the south drive and the south building will begin shortly.

August, 2006

The activity level on the building project continues at a fast pace as we head into the fall.

The 1975 building is nearly empty making way for renovation throughout that structure. Employees have moved into the north and south additions. The Printing Department will be moving to the old breakroom. Some people have moved on a temporary basis and will be moving back into the 1975 building when renovation is complete in March '07. Temporary corridors will be built through the construction area on the third floor to allow access to the north and south buildings and to the 1931 building.

Outside, demolition of the Annex and Services building on the east side is underway and construction will soon start on the new Commons building. Installation of the sprinkler system for the front lawn continues as well as landscaping around the buildings and along the creek. The bank of the creek is being planted with perennials which will provide color and texture throughout the growing season. Landscaping on the south part of the campus should be completed by the end of September.

July, 2006

There's a lot of moving going on!

The North addition is pretty well completed and several departments have moved into the north addition. Information technology has completed their move along with Facilities, Home Office Services, and Mail and Supply.

Several departments are making temporary moves out of the '75 building so we can begin remodeling that area. Claims Services, Corporate Accounting, Investments, and HO Personal Lines Underwriting have all completed their moves to the North addition.

The first of August the South addition will be completed and the entire Central Regional Office will be making their move, along with Insurex, Commercial Lines Services, and HO Marketing and Publishing Services.

All moves will be completed by the end of August and renovation will begin on the '75 building. A walkway across the south pedestrian bridge will be open by the end of July to provide access to the South addition

The Internal demolition of the Annex building that formerly housed IT has begun. Demolition of the building will begin the first part of August.

Outside work continues with irrigation being installed east of the creek. Over 70 new trees have been planted around the east parking lots and restoration of the creek bank has begun with rock landscaping around the bridges and excavation of areas along the creek bank to plant wildflowers.

There's been a lot of activity in the fire museum in preparation to move the collection off site while construction continues. We will be expanding the museum with over 1200 square feet of new space when the museum reopens in late 2007.

June, 2006

The first move!

Central ushered in a new era and moved into a brand new data center in the new north addition! This was only the second data center move in company history. The project required months of planning and it all paid off on June 3 when we successfully powered down, de-installed, physically moved by semi, re-installed, and fired up all of our computer equipment and operations in approximately 12 hours time.

Most of our customers, agents, policyholders, and internal Central personnel were unaware of this monumental task - which is just the way we planned it. It is an operation where "no news is good news." It also represents another milestone in Central's continued commitment to provide the best service possible to our policyholders and agents.

Since the first move, several departments have relocated to the North addition including Information Technology, Mail and Supply, Home Office Services, and Facilities. These moves prepare the way for the demolition of the single story structures on the back of the current building.

Landscape work continues on the grounds with sprinkler systems being installed, new trees being planted and decorative brick being laid at bridge and drive entrances. Temporary walkways have been installed so employees have an outside access to the north addition from the parking lots east of the creek.

The Visitor parking lot is now available on the north side of the circle drive at the front of the building.

May, 2006

Moving day is almost here! All furniture has been received for the north wing and June 3 is the date for Information Technology to move into the operations and command center. The remainder of personnel will move June 9, 10, and 11. Employees have been able to tour the north wing/third floor to get a feel for what the new facilities will look like.

Progress on the outside continues with decorative brick and concrete entrances to the pedestrian bridges.

Rough asphalt has been completed for the south drive, west visitors parking area, and the north employee parking area.

Sidewalks are also being completed on the north side.

April, 2006

Carpet is being installed and furniture delivery began as the north addition nears completion.

Several warm, spring days were welcomed by Van Wert employees who also welcomed the new air conditioning now operational throughout the complex.

Sidewalks are now being poured on the north side for entry into the new building. The move into the north addition is scheduled for the second weekend in June.

March, 2006

Plans have been completed for the move into the north addition the first part of June. Several departments will be moving including; Information Technology, Home Office Services, Mail and Supply, and Facilities.

The Landscaping contract has been awarded to Tom Clounie Landscaping, Huntington, IN. They have handled several major contracts including Jefferson Point. Landscaping will begin in May on the east side of the creek with the planting of trees. The project includes irrigating the entire lawn.

February, 2006

The weather in Ohio is cooperating as construction progress continues both outside and inside.

Both buildings are under roof. The north addition brick is nearly complete and bricking has started on the south addition. Installation of the slate shingles is nearly complete on the north addition.

Inside, installation and mudding of interior walls is proceeding. Ductwork and electrical work is continuing. Stairways and hallways are taking shape.

Recognizing a great crew of workers, a special "Super Bowl" luncheon was provided for all construction workers in appreciation for their hard work and effort. Willow Bend catered the luncheon with President Bill and others serving up soup and sandwiches for everyone.

Landscaping bid packs were released to pre-selected contractors.

December, 2005

Construction workers braved the elements as Winter in Ohio arrived early with snowfall and single digit temperatures for several days in a row. Slate shingles, brick, and concrete work continues to progress. Plastic windbreaks, tarps, and heaters are used to reduce the chill and allow construction to continue.

Inside, heavy black plastic decorates the breakroom and other work areas as indoor construction progresses throughout the building.

The first of many meetings took place to plan the move of the Information Technology department to the north addition. Planning for other departments will follow as we move closer to completion.

November, 2005

Although we've experienced our first snowfall, weather has cooperated and progress continues on the construction of both the north and south additions.

Bricking has started on the north addition. A special Flemish Bond brickwork design that was on the 1931 structure is being carried forward to the new structures. A header is a brick laid so that only its short face is visible. A stretcher is a brick laid so only its long face is visible. Each brick course in Flemish Bond consists of headers and stretchers laid alternately in a distinctive design. (See Progress Photos)

Both additions are being enclosed so construction workers can continue the inside work throughout the colder weather.

The slate shingles have arrived from Vermont and are being installed.

Concrete footers have been poured for the pedestrian bridges and the pre-formed bridges have been installed. Concrete has been poured for the surface of the vehicle bridges and decorative railings are being installed which will complement the pedestrian bridges.

October, 2005

On Tuesday, October 12, Central celebrated a high point - literally- when they placed a special steel beam on the construction site. The beam was signed by all Van Wert employees and is a "Topping Off" beam marking the highest point on a construction project. A topping off ceremony is a tradition with construction projects. President Bill Purmort addressed the employees and thanked the construction workers, contractors and architects for the excellent progress on the project.

A contemporary version of the topping off ceremony includes the placing of an evergreen tree on the beam symbolizing that the construction has proceeded well and without injury. It also symbolizes respect for various natural resources used in the project. An American flag is also attached to the beam representing patriotism as well as respect for the construction worker.

Densglass board is being placed on the north structure followed by a vapor barrier prior to laying the brick and mortar. The decking of the roof is being prepared for the slate roofing.

The south structure continues to progress with flooring and steel framing being installed.

The setting of the pre-form concrete structure for both vehicle bridges is complete.

September 16, 2005

Betty Montgomery, Auditor, State of Ohio paid Van Wert and Central a visit on September 1. Auditor of State Montgomery visted with a number of employees and toured the new construction area.

The north addition construction continues with concrete slabs all poured and interior studs completed. Electrical and mechanical work is underway and brickwork will begin in late September.

Steel work continues on the south addition and concrete floors are being poured.

Concrete bridge abutments have been completed for the north and south parking lot bridges.

We're making great progress, and in appreciation for their work a cookout was held for all construction workers on September 15.

August 15, 2005

The large scope of the building project is becoming apparent with the steel outline of the North structure completed and the South structure progressing. Concrete floors are completed on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the North addition.

Construction of the vehicle bridges has begun with steel support beams driven into both sides of the creek.

Trenching across the front yard toward Washington Street is underway to allow the laying of new electrical service lines.

July 15, 2005

Steel erection on the north addition should be completed by late July. Contractors will then move to the south addition for completion around October 1. The "connectors" between the existing structure and the additions are 70' x 80' with the new additions 80' x 220'.

Bridge construction to the east parking lot is scheduled to begin in mid-July.

June 15, 2005

The North and South additions are moving along with continued installation of wall footers, underground plumbing, and electrical systems.

The Maintenance Building is complete and occupied. Central employees had an opportunity to tour the facility and enjoy some Dairy Queen treats during an Open House on May 25.

Parking lot walkways are completed and the newly grassed in areas are looking good. To meet federal ADA (American with Disabilities Act) regulations, special pavers were installed in the sidewalks.

May 10, 2005

The visitors parking lot to the north side of the building has been excavated, and the Phase 1 demolition of the facilities area has been completed. In these areas, footers are now being installed for the construction of the north addition.

Seeding of the parking lot to the east of the creek has been completed and all employees are now using the Walnut Street or Ervin Road entrance.

Visitors are asked to enter the property from Washington Street using the north stone access drive and proceed with caution to the back of the buildings. Signs are available directing visitor parking.

April 12, 2005

Groundbreaking Ceremony Kicks Off Expansion/Renovation Project

The Groundbreaking ceremony for Central's major expansion/renovation project took place on Tuesday morning, April 12 at Central's Home Office.

Central President, Bill Purmort was joined by local and other dignitaries for the ceremony. Wayne Kilton, Project Manager, presided at the event. Speaking at the ceremony were:

Don Farmer,Van Wert Mayor
Dan Kelso, President of the Ohio Insurance Institute
Bill Bula, Architect, Flad & Associates of Madison, Wisconsin
Bill Purmort, President of Central.

Others participating in the event were:
Lela Brenneman, Employee Representative
Larry Weigand, Weigand Construction Company
Richard Dilling, Dilling Mechanical Contractors
Tom Stricker, Van Wert City Council
Harold Merkle, Van Wert County Commissioners,
Jodie Perry, Van Wert Chamber of Commerce
Nancy Bowen, Van Wert Economic Development Director
Lynn Army, Maumee Watershed District.

Photos of the ceremony are available on this web site under "Progress Photos".

Access to the back of the building from the circle drive on Washington Street entrance is closed. Visitors may enter the property from Washington Street using the north stone access drive and proceed to the back of the buildings. Signs are available directing visitor parking.

The south employee parking lot has been closed in preparation for construction. The parking lot entrance off Ervin Road is now open and employees must park on the East side of the creek.

Fencing around the Construction area is being installed and we encourage everyone to use caution at all times with widespread construction around all areas of the building

March 15, 2005

Contractors Selected for Building Project

Central is pleased to announce that the Weigand Construction Company, Inc., and Dilling Mechanical Contractors, both of Fort Wayne, Indiana have been awarded letters of intent for Central's building and renovation project.

Weigand Construction is a well known and respected contractor and has completed projects for Lutheran Hospital, Ball State and Purdue Universities, Jefferson Point Shopping Center, Rave Motion Pictures, and many others. Weigand will be responsible for construction of the building and renovation of existing facilities. Dilling Mechanical will be responsible for heating, air conditioning, plumbing, and electrical needs for the new construction. They have been involved in many major projects throughout Indiana and Ohio.

President Bill Purmort stated, "We are pleased that the selection process is concluded and we are moving on to the next phase. These two new partners are going to make our Central vision a reality."

February 25, 2005

Grounds Building - The new grounds building is now occupied. Final exterior finishing and painting will be completed as the weather permits.

Parking Garage - Construction in the old parking garage has been completed and now contains a custodial room and telecom room. The telephone system was successfully changed over from the old facility to the new area a couple of weeks ago. The flooring and support system has been completed for the heating/cooling and electrical systems.

Emergency Exits - Emergency exit corridors are being constructed along the south break room walls and the north Supply Department walls. This is being completed to provide exits prior to the construction of the north and south additions.

Bids for Construction - As of February 22, all bids have been received from general contractors, and mechanical-electrical-plumbing contractors for the major construction. Contracts will be awarded in the coming weeks.

January 4, 2005

The overall construction project continues to progress well. The brick exterior and roof on the new maintenance building have been completed and electric has been installed inside the building. Target completion is in three weeks.

Construction continues in the old parking garage with cement being removed and utilities being installed. Interior walls have been constructed for the new telephone and custodial rooms as well as the new fire riser room for fire suppression.

Parking lots to the east of the creek are curbed and paved and are now available for parking. Some concrete sidewalks have been installed with the rest to be completed as weather permits. The south and east parking lots will be open till major construction begins.

Central's Fire Museum Closed

As part of the new construction project, we will be adding approximately 1200 square feet to Central's Fire Museum. Effective immediately, the Museum is closed for the construction period. An announcement will be made when the museum is again open to the public.

October 19, 2004

Progress is continuing on the building project with lots of activity on the east parking lots and the property to the north of the campus. Many local contractors are involved including:

• Alexander & Bebout, Van Wert - General Contractor, east parking lots, construction of maintenance garage, demolition of property north of the Elks.
• Spoors Construction, Van Wert - Demolition of Elks pool/pool house and construction of temporary parking lot.
• Shambaugh & Son, Fort Wayne - Mechanical, electrical, plumbing in the parking garage/trenching on property.
• Ulm Construction, Delphos - Dirt and stone work in east parking lot.
• Noonan Tree Service, Delphos - Removal of trees on north side of campus and east side of creek.
• Overholt Electric, Middle Point - Electrical work on east parking lot.
• Matt Schwieterman & Son, Coldwater - Curb work on east parking lot.