ST Howard Development, the father-and-son team that helped spark interest in the East Village, is bringing office suites on line at its e5w building at East Fifth and Walnut streets.

The mixed-use building has featured retail establishments and condominium units since opening in 2009. Dad Steve Howard and his son, Tom, had no trouble filling retail units when e5w opened. Many of the condominium units have been converted to rental apartments, primarily due the crash in condo sales that accompanied the financial crisis.

The second floor at e5w has been vacant since the building opened, due in large part to the glut of vacant office space downtown.

Tom Howard said the company had considered the idea of developing office suites for several years, but was slow to jump into what has become a popular market niche that appeals especially to startup companies.

The concept “caught fire” with the Howards in the first quarter of 2012. They worked with Slingshot Architecture, which has designed other office suites downtown, to come up with a scheme to create 13 offices of 125 to 225 square feet, a conference room and kitchen area, as well as a lounge that marketers determined should be renamed a collaboration room.

The office suites also have access to a conference room with video conferencing capabilities, copying and shredding services, wireless and dedicated Internet, a fitness room and bicycle storage.

Rents will run from $400 to $700 a month, including utilities, with short-term, long-term and month-to-month leases available.

Howard said the spaces should be a good fit for lobbyists, manufacturers’ representatives and startups. Contact information is available at www.e5wofficesuites.com.