Fresh off being selected as one of the project architects for the new $60 million University of Washington School of Medicine-Gonzaga University Regional Health Partnership health sciences building, Seattle-based CollinsWoerman architecture firm has opened an office here.

“We have high confidence with what’s happening in Spokane,” says firm co-founder and principal Mark Woerman.

The firm specializes in the planning and design of large commercial, health care, and mixed-use residential projects. A growing client base in the region triggered the expansion.

The firm hired John Eckert, a former associate principal at Spokane-based NAC Architecture, to oversee its new office, located on the third floor of the Globe Building, at 204 N. Division, downtown. 

“We’ve had our eye on this for nearly five years,” Woerman says. “We think our approach, experience, and perspective on creating value for our clients is different from what’s currently offered here.”

On Monday, Sept. 9, Gonzaga and University of Washington officials announced plans to construct an 80,000-square-foot building to accommodate their medical school programs. The building is scheduled to be constructed at 840 E. Spokane Falls Blvd., near the southwest corner of Spokane Falls Boulevard and Hamilton Street.

CollinsWoerman will work with the Seattle and Spokane offices of McKinstry Co., which is involved in designing, building, developing, and managing the four-story facility slated to be completed by August 2020.

“I’m excited both personally and professionally,” Eckert says of being charged with heading the local office. “It’s a huge opportunity to help grow Spokane.”

Eckert says he had the chance to talk with Spokane Mayor David Condon at Monday’s press conference at Gonzaga in which the new building was announced.

“He said this is just the kind of opportunity the city needs for its future economic development,” Eckert says. “To be a part of a more regional economy that extends to the West Coast is only going to help make Spokane stronger.”

CollinsWoerman currently has between 85 and 90 employees companywide. With access to 2,600 square feet of space in its third-floor suite, the company could hire up to two-dozen employees in the coming months, Eckert says.