Photo courtesy of Utile

Boston-based design and architecture firm Utile Inc. is expanding its Ocean State presence with the opening of a new office in downtown Providence.

Located at 110 Union St. in the original Providence Telephone Co building, the 2,500 square foot office opened in late October with an initial staff of seven employees.

The firm, which has 77 employees including its headquarters at 115 Kingston St. in Boston’s Leather District, had a fully remote work policy through mid-October before switching to a hybrid model.

Utile’s work in Rhode Island includes consulting work for the Interstate 195 Redevelopment District Commission and the Cranston Street Armory reuse plan, both in Providence.