By Jeff McCready
The story about the EADS Group opening an office in Johnstown and moving into a larger office less than two years later is another indication of the diversification of Johnstown, once basically a steel town.
EADS, which stands for Engineering, Architectural and Design Services, opened its Johnstown office in early 2007 in Suite 208, 227 Franklin St.
"We were originally doing some work for the Johnstown Redevelopment Authority," said Steve Sewalk, a 1991 civil engineering graduate of Pitt-Johnstown and manager of the Johnstown office since its opening. "We thought we could serve our clients better with a local presence."
At the time the Johnstown office was opened, EADS president Dennis Stidinger said the expansion also would allow the firm to develop relationships with businesses and organizations in the surrounding community.
Altoona-based EADS also has an office in Somerset.
Today, those going to Suite 208 will only find an empty space with a sign directing them to its new, larger location in Suite 214.
Steve said that his office moved in May and then took over an adjacent office.
The new location has about 2,600 square feet compared with about 1,500 in the former location.
With the larger location has come an increase in employment.
The addition of five brings to 15 the number of engineers and technicians working out of the Johnstown office. Among the 15 is Mark Lazzari president of the Discover Downtown Johnstown Partnership board.
"Absolutely," Steve said when asked if it was a good move coming to Johnstown. The Johsnstown office is one of six EADS' locations. But the expansion of the Johnstown office and the addition of higher-paying jobs may not have been that evident since the office is on the second floor rather than a street-level location.
Since its founding in 1955, the EADS Group has grown from a small, specialized firm to a multi-disciplined organization employing over 200.
Its services include architectural, mapping, surveying, planning and water and sewer projects.
The Johnstown office currently is working on a sewer project in Conemaugh Township, Cambria County, while the Somerset one is involved with a similar project in Conemaugh Township, Somerset County. The Cambria County project is in the permitting state while pipes are being laid for the other one.
EADS' Mission Statement is "Quality Service with Integrity."
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