Johnston Engineering PLLC’s office at 1815 E. Trent in Spokane’s East Central neighborhood is undergoing an estimated $250,000 in renovations, says Andy Johnston, owner of the firm.

Johnston drew the architectural design for the 3,000-square-foot office space and is also acting as the contractor on the project. He anticipates remodeling will be done by early September. 

Work includes converting the building, formerly occupied by Abra Auto Body & Glass Spokane, into office space with partitioning walls, a new ceiling, and a kitchen equipped with a refrigerator, gas range, and microwave oven. Remodeling also includes installing a staircase leading to the office building’s second floor. 

Johnston says the second-floor space can accommodate about five more staff members. 

Last August, Johnston purchased the company’s new headquarters for $850,000, through a separate real estate business, Iso Investments LLC, he says.

Johnston Engineering moved into the space just before Thanksgiving, from 1,200 square feet of leased space at 3009 S. Mount Vernon, in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood. The site also has a separate 5,000-square-foot building that the firm is using to test research and inventions for commercialization purposes, he says.

Since moving into the new headquarters, Johnston Engineering has grown to a staff of 10 from five, he says.