In hunting for Indianapolis office space to house his business, Diversified Insurance Brokerage Group, Kevin Mandrell discovered IPS No. 85 at 338 South Arlington Avenue. Kevin saw great potential in the 70 year old school, which had been closed and on the auction block, and envisioned an opportunity to participate in Historic Irvington’s renaissance. Kevin bid on - and won - the 28,000 square foot space in 1998. With the help of Irvington residents, Kevin and his wife Annette spent the next few years renovating the space, readying it to house local businesses and contribute to the neighborhood as Irvington Office Center.
As part of the building’s renovation, central air conditioning was added, a new roof was installed and the entire building was rewired. A fresh coat of paint finished off the cosmetic changes. However, it was important to the Mandrells to preserve the exterior of the school, as well as a number of original features that make the school unique. The original maple hardwood flooring, the existing brass fixtures, and the limestone accents - all dating back to 1929 - were kept and restored. A company called Santa Rosa, which installed the original marble terrazo tile in the 20s, came back to refinish those floors for the new office building. And while the restrooms and other facilities originally built for small children have been reworked, you can still find playful features such as chalkboards and classroom coat closets still intact in many offices at Irvington Office Center.
The auditorium - which still maintains its original stage - was also renovated to serve as a conference room. "We're very pleased with what they have done at the school," said Kent Hankins of the Irvington Historic Preservation Subcommittee. "Their changes have been very much in line with our efforts here."*
In June 2011, the Irvington Office Center was purchased by CLM Pallet Recycling. CLM Pallet has been a long-time tenant. Kevin expressed interest in selling the building. He was approached by two friends who displayed the same level of enthusiasm for the building and community. CLM Pallet’s owners, Charlie Mong and Mark Loughery’s vision to preserve the historic building while creating a creative work environment for Indianapolis business owners aligned with the Mandrell’s dream for community.
“I have worked in the Irvington area since 1966 and when it came time to select a location for my company’s corporate headquarters, I wanted it to be in Irvington,” said Charlie Mong. “ Having the opportunity to own such a beautiful and historic building gives me great personal satisfaction and ensures that our offices will be here for many years to come.”