91ÊÓƵ

Insitu, a Washington-based company that designs and builds unmanned aircraft systems, or drones, is establishing a new facility in Hood River.

Designed by SUM Design Studio, construction of Insitu’s 68,000-square-foot office in Hood River’s Waucoma Center is scheduled to begin in a couple of weeks, according to Caroline Petrich, spokeswoman for the project. Bids have been received, but a general contractor has not yet been selected. Another 16,000-square-foot facility will also be constructed next to the Waucoma Center.

Designers Matt Loosemore and Eric Hoffman plan to use wood ceilings throughout the office’s large lobby to reflect Hood River’s logging history. The pair previously designed a 5,000-square-foot office for Insitu at a former winery building in Bingen, Wash., in 2005.

Because Insitu’s work in designing unmanned aircrafts for use by the U.S. government is highly sensitive, Insitu declined to provide renderings of their new offices to the 91ÊÓƵ. However, the renderings can be viewed on SUM Design Studio’s .

Construction on the project will wrap up in April 2010.