Winona Volunteer Services’ (WVS) new headquarters has earned statewide recognition for its impressive design and on-time completion. The project, spearheaded by La Crescent-based Wieser Brothers General Contractor and designed by OWA Architects, was awarded the prestigious Excellence in Construction Award by the Associated Builders and Contractors of Minnesota & North Dakota (ABC).

The WVS headquarters project, one of four institutional projects honored this year, took home the top prize among projects with budgets ranging from $1 to $5 million. The new facility consolidated WVS’ diverse functions, including its food shelf, thrift store, kitchen, offices, nutrition classes, meeting rooms, and loading dock, into a single, efficient location.

In the award’s commendation, ABC highlighted the project’s efficiency in meeting its tight timeline, noting that construction, which began in July 2023, was completed the following spring.

“It was an honor to be on stage with Jeff Wieser, Nichole Deflorian, Jacob Nicklay, and Jim Hamilton receiving this tribute,” said WVS Executive Director Sandra Burke. “This talented team did an outstanding job completing our project in a nine-month period within budget and [with] no lost workdays.” She added, “Congratulations, Wieser Brothers! You made our dream come true.”

The facility's grand opening in the summer of 2024 revealed how the new space would enhance volunteer coordination and improve service delivery for clients. Staff noted that the new building would help clients navigate WVS’ offerings more easily and gain confidence in accessing the right services. At the time, WVS had already raised over $4 million of its $4.8 million goal for the project.

“If you would like to be a part of this award-winning building, WVS is still accepting donations to the capital campaign,” the organization shared in a statement this week.

WVS Volunteer Coordinator Bev Speltz reflected on the community's role in the project, saying, “To know that we … have the support of the Winona community to make this building possible, to me, is overwhelming, and it is heartwarming to know that our community believes that strongly in the work that we do and the services that we provide.”

Donations for the capital campaign can be made by mailing checks to Winona Volunteer Services, 402 East Second Street, Winona, MN 55987, with "capital campaign" noted in the memo.

Originally reported by Chris Rogers in Winona Post.