Construction of a 13,200-square-foot commercial building is expected to begin in early April on one of the last buildable lots near Steptoe Street and Gage Boulevard.

Jason Zook, owner of Smile-A-Mile Painting of Kennewick, will be moving his growing business into the new $1.2 million building at 8804 W. Victoria Ave., next door to Garland’s Gymnastics.

Smile-A-Mile Painting will occupy a two-story, 3,360-square-foot section of the building.

Five other suites are available for lease on the 1.07-acre site, he said.

James Wade, realtor and commercial broker for the Kenmore Team of Kennewick, said there’s strong market interest “due to the exemplary location, attention paid to design and great space availability.”

“We paid a lot of attention to using different materials, different colors, different awnings and entrance treatments so every suite looks unique while still blending with the design of building,” Wade said.

Zook launched Smile-A-Mile Painting in 2007 in Oregon, and when he moved to the Tri-Cities in 2011, he sold the Oregon company to the manager.

The business focuses on residential and commercial painting.

“Our mission is to complete your painting project the way you want,” Zook said.

Smile-A-Mile Painting employs 17 people, increasing to 22 employees seasonally.

Zook said the company has outgrown its space at 320 N Johnson St., Suite 900, in Kennewick.

“We were looking for good visibility, a central location and being able to keep expanding,” Zook said. He said the new office will create a supportive and caring environment for people to pick paint colors, which is often the most difficult part of the painting process.

“The new building is going to work more efficiently and service more of our customers in the Tri-Cities. And it is going to bring us back to our goal to provide the highest customer service and a personalized experience so you can smile at a job well done. In doing that, that’s our goal,” Zook said.