MatriCal Inc., a Spokane company that designs and manufactures products used for scientific research, says its planned move to the Riverwalk Plaza here will allow it to keep its operations and corporate offices consolidated in one location.


Margo Buckles, an administrator for MatriCal, says the new location, at 1007 E. Trent, is ideal, because at 17,000 square feet its bigger than other locations the company considered elsewhere in the University District, where it wants to stay. Currently, MatriCal is located in a 10,000-square-foot space in the Sirti Building, at 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd.


Buckles says the company has needed more room for some time, but doesnt have specific expansion plans at this time.


Kevin Oldenburg, co-owner of MatriCal, has said the company doesnt necessarily have to add many employees as production increases, since it outsources manufacturing of the parts for its products to local vendors, then assembles the products at MatriCal. The products it assembles there range in size from small scientific-sample containers to automated storage units the size of walk-in refrigerators. The largest automated storage units it sells are room-sized and are built on-site at research facilities.


MatriCal previously had signed a lease with Washington State University for a 10,000-square-foot space near Sirti, but WSUs plans for that space changed and it opted out of the contract, Buckles says. Under that scenario, the company had expected to keep its administrative offices at Sirti, but Buckles says the company now plans to vacate the Sirti Building and have all of its operations at Riverwalk. It hopes to move its operations there by June 1.


Gavin Swenson, who owns Riverwalk with partners David Birge and Mark Baier, says the space MatriCal will move into is in the brick portion of the complex. Swenson says the partners plan to install new flooring, plumbing, bathrooms, and windows and other upgrades.


Contact Jeanne Gustafson at (509) 344-1264 or via e-mail at jeanneg@spokanejournal.com.