WUS Celebrates New Administration Building with Community Rooms
On Monday, November 10th, Wayland Union Schools hosted an open house for our new Administration Building. Originally built in 1999 and recently used as the Metropolitan Health facility, the district purchased the building in June 2024 and began renovations with the help of Triangle and TowerPinkster. We officially moved into the space on October 6th, 2025.
Using bond funds, we refreshed the upper level with paint and carpet, while the majority of work took place on the lower level to create a hub for community use. The lower level now features two small conference rooms, two larger conference rooms, and a communal kitchen for community and district events. The largest conference room can accommodate up to 132 participants, while the smaller one holds up to 79.
With this expansion, 19 staff members who were previously spread across seven buildings are now under one roof. Departments located in the Administration Office include Community Education, Early Childhood, Food Service, Maintenance, Central Office, Communications, Technology, Special Education, and Security. Bringing these departments together has already improved communication and collaboration, a goal we are excited to see in action.
This new building marks an important chapter for our district, creating a centralized space to better serve our families. Beyond district operations, the space is designed for the entire community, from Leisure Life programs and athletic banquets to professional development and community events. We are deeply grateful for the continued support that made this expansion possible and are thrilled to take this next step for our district alongside our community!
Thank you to all the staff and community members who joined us for the Open House of the new Administration Office! As promised, our community helped us choose names for the four conference spaces in the lower level, and the winning theme was… Names Associated with the History of the Wayland School District.
We are excited to announce the names of our four spaces: Lumberton Room, Chamber’s Corners, Dahlia City Room, and the Heritage Trail Room. For those less familiar with Wayland’s history, here’s the story behind each name:
Lumberton Room – Settlers began arriving in the early 1800s, and by 1826, the land had been surveyed for settlement. Colonel Isaac Barnes purchased land along the Rabbit River and operated a mill, giving the area its first official name, Lumberton.
Chamber’s Corners – Nelson Chambers and his family arrived in 1837 and began clearing land for farming. During this time, Chief Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish’s Band of Pottawatomi Indians relocated to the Bradley region, where they continue to reside. They hunted, harvested wild rice, made baskets from black ash trees, and produced maple sugar from the surrounding forests. By the 1840s, several families had settled in the area, now called Chamber’s Corners, and by 1844, there were enough children to establish the first school.
Heritage Trail Room – Wayland is part of the 122-mile Heritage Trail, which highlights 28 points of interest along the route, showcasing the history and beauty of Allegan County. Wayland’s historical point on the trail is at the southwest corner of Main and Superior Streets, where Nelson Chambers built a cabin in 1838.
Dahlia City Room – Wayland was once known as Dahlia City, home to the world’s largest dahlia farm from 1927 to 1958. The farm shipped dahlia tubers globally. After it was sold in 1958, the site became a subdivision with streets named after flowers, Garden, Violet, Lilac, and Aster, which remain thriving neighborhoods today.
Thank you again to everyone who helped us name the conference rooms and honor these important moments in the history of the Wayland School District! We look forward to seeing these spaces support the community and district as we continue the legacy of Wayland Union Schools.
Sources:
- Short History of the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan (Gun Lake Tribe)
- Wayland History by Gail Hollinger, https://www.waylandchamber.org/community/wayland-history/
