Writer / Kara Reibel . Photographer / Brian Brosmer
Near the intersection of College Avenue and Kessler Boulevard, a new construction site is in the works. The structure, which will be next door to Ambrosia’s, will be the new home of Reliant Partners Commercial Realty.
Reliant PCR partners Tom Willey, Scott Lindenberg, Ron Foster and Melissa Wilmoth all have strong ties to the Broad Ripple area and wanted to reinvest locally instead of seeking office space elsewhere.
“I live close by and love the pocket areas of mixed commercial use around us – 49th & Penn, 56th & Illinois, and the Kessler & College area just south of the main Broad Ripple zone,” said Willey. “It is one of those places we felt we could improve and invest in.”
Seeking a sophisticated office space, the Reliant group decided to build their own to enhance the area. Given their shared love of the area, Reliant PCR sought the experienced and progressive design architectural firm, ONE 10 STUDIO Architects. Lindenberg said, “Having outgrown our current space, we looked around and wanted to reinvest in Broad Ripple.”
The two-story office project presented some challenges for the architectural firm. “The location is a transitional space between residential and commercial applications,” said architect Patrick Kestner. “We pulled in elements from each of the neighboring properties to blend the building into the fabric of the neighborhood.”
The architectural renderings depict this fluid cohesion, drawing in elements of both the commercial Fox building to the south and the residential homes to the north. These visual elements included in the design will allow the building to blend beautifully into the area.
Property Manager Melissa Wilmoth is looking forward to their new office, “I enjoy the convenience and character of Broad Ripple for the easy access to work and play. The restaurants and conveniences close by are hard to beat.”
The first floor will be occupied by a single tenant, Ameriana Bank, and Reliant will fill the second floor with another tenant and/or individual office suite users.
Thoughtful consideration went into the building’s energy efficiency as well as its design. Materials used for the construction are of the highest quality. Utilizing “green” wall and roofing panels from Thermocore, Inc., the building promises to be extremely energy efficient.
“It is important to provide an innovative design in regards to the overall aesthetics, but to incorporate available technologies that establish comfortable, energy efficient structures that contribute and sustain its vitality for the long term life of the project,” said Kestner. “The use of Structural Insulated Panel Systems (SIPS) for the exterior wall and roof framing provides a highly insulated building envelope that exceeds code minimums by more than double.”
Another added feature of these structurally insulated wood panels is their acoustical value, which will help mitigate traffic noise on adjacent College Avenue.
“In building this structure, we wanted to invest in Broad Ripple and create a dynamic, sustainable office environment,” says Lindenberg.
