Vandervert Construction Inc., of Spokane, has started work on four structures—three here and one in the Tri-Cities—with a combined estimated value of $3.3 million, says Tim Stulc, company vice president. Two of the structures will house day-care centers, another will house three retail tenants, and the fourth will house a tire store, Stulc says.

Vandervert Construction is building a $1 million structure, at 415 E. Holland, that will be leased by day-care provider Love & Laughter Inc., of Spokane, he says. The 8,850-square-foot structure is scheduled to be completed by Sept. 1.

Love & Laughter's owner, Ruthie Jane Reidt, says the business will open with about 20 employees and will be licensed to care for 146 children.

Vandervert also is erecting a $748,000 structure in Sundance Plaza, at 5421 W. Barnes Road, that another day care, Pacific Park Children's Center Inc., will lease Stulc says. That 6,250-square-foot structure, which will be located in a free-standing building on the north side of Barnes, about a block west of Indian Trail Road, is scheduled to be completed by Aug. 1, he says.

Katie Solinsky, a principal in Pacific Park, says the day care will open with about 10 employees, and she hopes to increase that eventually to 20 employees. Pacific Park has applied for a day-care license which it expects will allow it to handle 80 to 90 children, she says.

The $500,000, three-bay retail building that Vandervert is erecting will be located in the Moran Prairie Shopping Center, on the South Hill. The project site is at the east end of the shopping center, at 3029 E. 57th, which currently has five tenants.

Guy Byrd, the leasing agent for the center, says three prospective retail tenants, whom he declines to name, have shown interest in the planned new building. Construction is expected to be completed in three to four months, Byrd says.

Russell C. Page Architects PS, of Spokane, designed the day-care and retail structures.

Separately, Vandervert Construction broke ground last week on a $1.4 million, 15,000-square-foot project for a Les Schwab Tires Center Inc. outlet in Pasco, Wash. Les Schwab has its own architect for that project, which is scheduled to be completed in mid-October, he says.