Western Systems & Fabrication has bought a building that will more than triple its space here to help it handle what it says has been swift growth in the past couple of years.

Mark Choate, owner of the Spokane Valley-based maker of refuse and recycling containers, says the company bought the $1.75 million, 40,000-square-foot building, at 911 N. Thierman, because it has outgrown its 12,000-square-foot leased space at 2403 N. University.

Western Systems is projecting sales of about $12 million this year, which would be about twice as much revenue as it had three years ago, Choate says. He says that over the past few years, the company has added to its product lines and has expanded its territory to more municipalities and waste disposal companies in Western Washington and Oregon. It opened a sales office in Clackamas, Ore., and also sells its products in Idaho, Choate says.

The company plans to move its administrative office to the building on Thierman next month. He says its manufacturing operations will move there in June, upon completion of an about $500,000 project to retrofit the building for its operations. Inland Construction Group Inc., of Spokane is doing that work, he says.

Choate says the company also bought the building because of rapid growth. Western Systems recently hired four people here, bringing its work force to 27, including the five-person sales office in Clackamas. Choate expects to hire three to four more people in the next few months.

The building on Thierman previously housed a wood-products company named Building Materials Distributors Inc., Choate says.

Choate says he and his wife, Adrienne, bought Western Systems from his father-in-law, Michael Torre, in 1997. Choate's extended family also owns and operates Sunshine Disposal Inc., of Spokane.

Doug Byrd, of Byrd Real Estate Group LLC, of Spokane, handled the transaction, Choate says.