Our move to the newly renovated Central Building at 201 West Wayne Street was announced in a September 30 press conference, followed by a ribbon cutting with Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry and other city officials. We moved to the new location to increase our visibility and participate in ongoing downtown revitalization.

Previously located in another downtown building that offered us little visible identity, we decided to search for a new home. We went through a long period of analysis and walked through numerous buildings and sites on the outer line of the city as well as downtown. In the end, we were unanimous in our desire to stay downtown.

“It was a matter of finding the right location,” partner Gary Johnson says. “With the Central Building, we’ve found a place that meets our needs, provides greater visibility and client accessibility, and allows us to be a part of the city’s downtown renaissance.”

Located at the corner of Wayne and Harrison streets, the Central Building is directly across the street from the iconic Cindy’s Diner. It’s also within easy walking distance of the new Parkview Field and the beautifully refurbished Embassy Theatre—as well as the renovated and expanded Grand Wayne Center and Allen County Public Library.

At the ribbon cutting for our new home, Mayor Tom Henry and other city officials welcomed Beckman Lawson as a new tenant in the center of the city and commented on the significance of the firm’s choice of location to the continuing renaissance of downtown Fort Wayne.

"We're all aware you could have chosen any number of locations," Mayor Henry said. "We're glad you chose downtown. That means a lot to all of us."

All of us at Beckman Lawson were actively involved in the renovation of the Central Building, which had stood vacant for several years and was once home to WOWO Radio and its world-famous fire escape.

We worked closely with the architect to achieve an attractive interior that would also function as practical office space. It was important to us that the exterior of the 1916 Craftsman-style building should maintain its architectural integrity, with only repairs and painting as needed to restore its freshness and appeal.