Architecture firm to convert downtown building into HQ

Paragon Architecture LLC plans to transform the downtown former home of Inland Printing Co. into its new headquarters.

At 637 W. College St., Paragon yesterday held a groundbreaking ceremony for the renovation expected to be complete in time for the firm’s 10th anniversary in March 2020, according to a news release. The company currently operates at 430 S. Glenstone Ave.

“The building is already outfitted with a garage door, an 80-foot skylight and large windows,” said Jared Younglove, who recently was promoted to Paragon’s technical director, in the release. “It’ll make the space feel open and let a lot of light in.”

Branco Enterprises Inc. is serving as general contractor for the building project located across the street from Lost Signal Brewing Co., near the Mother’s Brewing Co. campus along Grant Avenue. Paragon is desiging the 10,000-square-foot development. Its 16 employees will occupy 7,000 square feet, with 2,000 available for lease early next year and 1,000 for shared space.

The project has a declared valuation of $500,000 on a city building permit. A Greene County recorder filing shows Paragon principal architect Brad Erwin’s Touchstone Group LLC bought the property in November 2018. The deed of trust lists a note amount of $805,000 from Old Missouri Bank.

Built by Herrick Motor Co. in the early 1950s, the building on historic Route 66 was Fischer Oldsmobile Co. before it was Inland Printing, according to the release. The latter firm merged with Lakeland Office Systems Inc., which operates a Springfield office at 2932 E. Pythian St., according to the company’s website.

Paragon ranked No. 11 on Springfield Business Journal’s 2019 list of the area’s largest architectural firms, based on its six architects as of March.