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The new headquarters for cargo rack manufacturer Yakima will be in Lake Oswego, thanks to the company’s $20.1 million purchase of the West End Building on 14 acres at 4101 S.W. Kruse Way.

Yakima purchased the building from the city of Lake Oswego, which bought it about nine years ago.

Lake Oswego Mayor Kent Studebaker said Yakima was looking for a new location because its lease was up at its location in Beaverton.

The city of Lake Oswego had been looking to sell the West End Building, according to Studebaker, because the building was costing the city between $800,000 and $1 million. In addition to having to replace major systems such as heating and air conditioning over the years, the 鈥渂anks decided we had to pay down the principal鈥� on the building, he said.

Yakima’s current location in Beaverton is 37,000 square feet. The company will almost double its footprint when it uses 65,000 square feet of the 89,000-square-foot Lake Oswego building. The company eventually will use the extra space for future growth but will lease it out until then.

According to a company statement, Yakima has expanded its employee base by 21 percent during the past year and will employ more than 100 people at the new site.

The sale was brokered by Jones Lang LaSalle with consultation from Newmark Grubb Cressy & Everett.

Studebaker said the city didn’t take part in the sale, but was just about to put the property up for bid when Yakima expressed interest in the site.

鈥淚t’s a wonderful piece of property and 11 acres have no environmental constraints,鈥� Studebaker said. 鈥淚t’s well-kept, landscaped and in the middle of everything, close to Interstate 5 and Highway 217.鈥�

Yakima plans extensive interior remodeling to begin in August, led by design and architecture firm Mackenzie. The company plans to move in by December.

Ryan Martin, CEO of Yakima, said the building will be gutted and reconfigured for company needs and employee comfort. A new research and development laboratory will be built as well as a gym and spacious common areas.

鈥淲e want to bring the outdoors in as much as we can,鈥� he said.

Martin’s company looked all over the Portland area for just the right property to buy. He said there he found a lot of properties for lease, but 鈥渘ot a lot for sale.鈥�

In addition to the abundance space in the Lake Oswego building, the structure has three automotive bays where Yakima can test its products.

鈥淚t’s just a fantastic opportunity, to get in there and spread our wings and grow,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t’s been great working with the city, and I’m looking forward to swinging a hammer and get the space where we want it.鈥�