When the Wyandot County EMS purchased an existing building in Upper Sandusky, Ohio for future operations, EMS Coordinator Dale Risley knew the structure had great potential but he also knew it needed major renovations as well as an addition to accommodate all the must-haves on his list. A finalized building plan revealed the 12,000 square foot facility would have more overhead doors for emergency vehicles, a large training room, sleeping areas, and much needed storage space. 

Demolition started in February 2017 and the job was full of surprises including:

• The building shared a masonry wall that needed to be extended 30" above and 18" past the outside of both structures 
• The masonry had to be filled with vermiculite to achieve a 3-hour fire rating
• The first overhead door had to be moved 4’ away from the shared wall
• Two steel support columns had to be installed under the two main beams in the garage next to the shared masonry wall to allow all weight from the beams to be off the masonry fire wall
• A stone base was non-existent and 8" of soil was removed to install a proper stone base
• Sanitary and storm lines needed to be separated and run to their appropriate outlet 
• The existing water line was corroded and undersized so a new water line had to be drilled into the building from the road 
• Overhead electric lines were were dangerously low thus new underground service had to be bored from across the street and the existing wires were removed 
• Gas service was combined with neighbors so individual lines needed to be run before the existing shared line was eliminated

Additionally, overhauling the openings for the overhead doors where the ambulances would be pulling into the building required strategic engineering. Sections of the masonry below grade had to be dug up and removed roughly every 14’ and concrete foundations were poured. Then the masonry wall was cut out vertically at these foundations in order to install steel columns. Once complete, structural C-channels were bolted on either side of the block wall and attached to the columns, allowing all the masonry underneath to be removed and steel jams installed.

Some other upgrades to the existing building included:

• A garage area with an oil and water separator
• New shop drains
• New concrete, with a portion of it being heated
• New block interior walls with a securable medical room, perforated liner panel ceilings, lights, overhead doors and operators, and a carbon monoxide detection system with exhaust fan
• Fresh paint in all spaces
• Renovated training room, staff offices, main restrooms, chair and table storage, and a mechanical room housing a backup natural gas generator capable of providing power for the entire building in case of emergencies

• 2 sleep rooms
• A day room
• Private bathrooms with showers
• Space for lockers
• An additional storage area

Finally, the exterior of the building and the site around the building needed upgrading:

• New sidewalks and concrete aprons were poured
• New metal siding was installed around the entire building
• Cultured stone veneer wainscot was installed
• New asphalt was paved on both ends of the building
• 8,000 square feet of existing asphalt was removed and dirt was hauled in to make for a lush grass space 

In the beginning, many questioned whether the building was worth saving; however, since the project was completed, Dale and the EMS department have received nothing but positive feedback and compliments from the community. Clouse Construction is extremely appreciative that Dale trusted us with his visions and allowed us the honor of restoring an existing building to its glory. 

• Bradner, Ohio: American Warming Ventilating and Luckey Farmers
• Bowling Green, Ohio: Fastenal, TH Plastics, and Williams Industrial Service
• Carey, Ohio: Andersons, BR Pallet, Carey Schools, Continental Structural Plastics, and Rexlor Transport Inc. 
• Findlay, Ohio: Hancock County Fair Old Millstream Building, Hamlet Protein, MITEC, Molton North America, Nissin Brake, Reineke Ford, Rowmark, Sonoco, and The University of Findlay Student Union
• Fostoria, Ohio: Bliss Charter, Good Shepherd Home, Mennel Mill, NOX – formerly Atlas Crankshaft, and Roppe Rubber 
• Fremont, Ohio: Atlas Industries, Baumann Auto Group, Fastenal, and Grace Community Church 
• Genoa, Ohio: Genoa Ford
• North Baltimore, Ohio: D.S. Brown, Hancock-Wood Electric Co-Op and Willmar International
• Norwalk, Ohio: Sunrise Co-Op
• Old Fort, Ohio: Church & Dwight and Old Fort United Methodist Church
• Plain City, Ohio: Evolution Ag
• Risingsun, Ohio: Charter Steel and First Church of God 
• Tiffin, Ohio:  American Fine Sinter, Arnold Machine, Baumann Auto Group, Coppus Motors, Church & Dwight, Fruth Farms, ICP, Inc., Owens Corning, Palfinger, Seneca County Fair, Sonoco Products, Taiho Corp., Tiffin Ag & Turf, Tiffin Aire, Tiffin Ford, and Webster Mfg.
• Upper Sandusky, Ohio: Bridgestone, Diamond Door, Fastenal, Kalmbach Feeds, Masters Building at Wyandot County Fair, Wyandot County EMS, and Wyandot Co. Engineer’s Office/Garage