The Dirt: Dania Furniture eager to show off renovated building

A three-year historical renovation project will wrap up soon for the more than 100-year-old downtown Spokane building that’s home to Dania Furniture.

Employees expect to hold a grand reopening sometime next month at 319 W. Riverside Ave. to show off the four-story, 55,000-square-foot property.

Store manager Patty Codd-O’Neill said Dania remained open during the project that exposed original ceiling beams and most of the interior brick walls where decades-old advertisements now show. Walker Construction, of Spokane, is the contractor for the estimated $2 million project.

“It’s just breathtaking,” Codd-O’Neill said. “With all the preservation efforts happening in the downtown core, we felt it was important to preserve this building.”

She said an early Spokane department store was adjacent to and preceded the construction of Dania’s building, which explains old wall advertisements hawking drapes and furniture that are now visible. Dania’s structure was built around 1904 for Wonder Department Store.

The renovation opened the second and fourth floors, adding 20,000 square feet of showroom space. The fourth floor’s original tin ceiling was restored and an old blacked-out skylight was replaced with a new one. Spokane artist Robert Sevilla Naudon made metal and wood railings.

A fourth-level light well in the flooring was refurbished to bring in more natural light. Other updates included new hardwood floors and roof, elevator replacement, electrical and HVAC upgrades and LED lighting.

Interline, parent company of Dania Furniture and Scandinavian Designs, owns the building. About 40 outlets of Dania and Scandinavian Designs operate as far east as Chicago but are mainly in California, Washington, Oregon and Colorado.

Medical Society leases office on Second Avenue

Spokane County Medical Society, a professional membership organization, has leased 4,000 square feet for an office at 901 E. Second Ave.

The group, which draws physicians and physician assistants, promotes health for Spokane County residents and supports its members’ educational and professional needs.

Jeff Ottmar of Sperry Van Ness Cornerstone and Craig Soehren of Kiemle & Hagood assisted in the transaction.

Country Aire Technologies expanding into region

Country Aire Technologies Inc., distributor of an indoor air quality system, has leased 1,700 square feet at 1120 N. Mullan Road in Spokane Valley.

The Lakewood, Washington-based company, is expanding into Eastern Washington.

Treva Lind