By Lindsay Eckert
WWKI

Interior Architect Whittney Beechy stepped foot in WWKI studios Tuesday morning to reveal how she’s lending a hand to make “Kokomo Strong”. The 27-year-old Kokomo High School alumna said her and her father’s firm, Mawr Design, are behind the rebuilding of the UAW Building that was trampled by Nov. 17’s tornadoes.

Beechy said Mawr Design will be breaking ground on a 2,500-square feet building — that will be one of the most state-of-the-art UAW buildings in the nation – summer 2014 and has an expected completion date for spring 2015.

Beechy said the project announcement is one of many as Kokomo continues to flourish – according to a recent report from the United States Conference of Mayors, Kokomo had a growth rate of 2.5 percent in 2013 and is forecasted to double that rate for 2014.

“What’s going on in Kokomo right now is really special,” Beechy said during Male Call. “If people aren’t aware of it they need to be.”

And there’s plenty to be aware of: Fall 2014 will bring two new looks to Kokomo. One being the Bel-Air Event Center, a 12,000-square feet event venue from the owners of PASTAriffic. Also, a revamp and new look for Station 6 Fire Department.

The biggest project, Beechy said is a step toward achieving her dream of building skyscrapers.

“[Mawr Design] is designing Sargent Hall – an Indiana University Kokomo dormitory located downtown Kokomo – will be complete by spring 2015,” Beechy said. “I love skyscrapers so I keep thinking, with every dormitory or building I design I’ll just add a few more stories with each project until I get there.”

Beechy added the dormitory is a total of 70,000-square feet.