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Ron Wells

-Sandra Hosking photo.

Hometown: Asheville, North Carolina
Place of Residence: Spokane
Occupation: Architect, Owner of Wells & Co.

Architect Ron Wells has spent a career finding new life for old buildings.
"I think a lot of the (historic) buildings are built with a much higher degree of architectural character and quality than most new apartments," he says.

Wells grew up in North Carolina and earned bachelor's and master's degrees from North Carolina State University. He moved to Moscow, Idaho, in 1973 to teach at the University of Idaho. He and his wife, Julie, an interior designer, launched Wells & Co. there in 1978, then moved the company to Spokane in 1983.

"It was one of the best decisions we ever made," he says. "Spokane was a great time for us. All my years of experience in historic renovation really was worth something in Spokane. I was very fortunate to find many years of wonderful work—and still do—and many people who are just great."

The company has worked on dozens of certified historic rehabilitation projects—some developed by his company and some for clients.

"I just love historic buildings," he says.

Wells believes that urban living options help make downtown Spokane vibrant. Wells & Co.'s first condominium project was the Riverside Court Townhouses on West Riverside Avenue, where the couple lived for about seven years.

The company subsequently refurbished and turned several other buildings into condominiums or apartments, including the West 809 Lofts across from River Park Square.

Currently, Wells & Co. plans to turn a former fire-station site into an eight-lot development called the Carnegie Square Townhouses. Individuals will own their own lots, which are zoned business-residential.

Wells' greatest source of pride is the Steam Plant, a cavernous industrial building on Lincoln Street erected in 1915. Its two towering smokestacks add character to the Spokane skyline. Wells & Co. began renovating it in 1996, and now the building is now home to offices and the Steam Plant Grill.

"My favorite spot in Spokane is always going to be Steam Plant Square because it's such a monumental work of iron and levers and tanks and catwalks," Wells says.

Says Wells, "This is just a great city. It's a great region. We're attracting a lot of people who move here because the quality of life—near nature near perfect sums it up. Everywhere you look there's something good happening."