Allison Mansion – Alumni House

Currently housing the Office of the President and Marian University’s Alumni House, Allison Mansion was built in 1914 to serve as the residence of James Allison, one of four founders of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In 1936, the Sisters of Saint Francis of Oldenburg, Indiana purchased the Allison estate, moving then Marian College to Indianapolis.

The exterior of the mansion is an eclectic blend of early Prairie School and Lombardy Villa architecture. The interior is lavishly designed in a traditional European aesthetic. The grounds of the 64-acre Riverdale estate were designed by master landscape architect Jens Jensen.

After a year of renovations* and improvements, including an elevator lift and first floor bathrooms, Alumni House at Allison Mansion was made ADA accessible. These enhancements, along with over 8,000 square feet of elegant space overlooking the gardens of Riverdale and the Nina Mason Pulliam EcoLab, make the mansion an ideal and unique venue for events for not only Marian Alumni, but also the community at large. Consider Alumni House at Allison Mansion for your wedding reception, rehearsal dinner, anniversary celebration, corporate holiday party or retreat!

*Restoration of the stained glass ceiling in the Aviary was supported by The Lockerbie Square Questers #333. 

Allison Mansion Features and Rental Packages

• Dinner seating for 130 with separate room for reception and/or dance floor
• Optional outdoor patio for cocktail hour
• Access to mansion and adjacent gardens for photo backdrop
• The gardens may be used for events (at additional rental cost) 
• Event host and security
• Use of house tables and chairs
• Facility set up, break down, and clean-up
• Free on-site parking during designated times
• Access to two monitors, podium, and in-house sound system
• Option to add tent (at additional rental cost) to the outdoor gardens
• ADA Accessible 

Alumni Hall

Consider additional buildings on campus such as Alumni Hall. With banquet capacity of 250 with dance floor or 300 with no dance floor. Alumni Hall has an 18,500 square feet interior with a total combined interior and exterior square footage of 25,000 square feet.

Rental pricing for Alumni Hall starts at $4500 for evenings and weekend rentals. 

Alumni Hall provides an open concept great room with a soaring ceiling that is 20 feet high with a wall of windows to the north providing an enormous amount of natural light. A variety of seating options are available and the main gathering area can be converted into a large banquet hall with a seating capacity of 300.

Alumni Hall also features three exterior terraces and patios to provide scenic options for additional seating or cocktail receptions.

Alumni Hall is also home to Marian University's bookstore, a Starbucks café, and Chick-fil-A.

*Reception Only

Bishop Chartrand Chapel

The Bishop Chartrand Chapel located in Marian Hall is available for ceremonies for students, alumni, and faculty/staff.