Garco Construction Inc., of Spokane, plans to build a $3.5 million structure for the Spokane branch of Modern Machinery Co. that will be more than double the size of the facility the Missoula-based heavy-equipment dealer occupies here.


Modern Machinery sells, rents, and services new and used equipment and sells machinery parts primarily for the construction and logging industries. The company emphasizes the Komatsu line of machinery for which it has exclusive dealership rights in the Pacific Northwest, although it also carries equipment from about 20 other makers, its Web site says.


Kevin Schafer, a project manager for Garco, says the contractor has filed a building-permit application with the city of Spokane and hopes to begin construction of the 34,000-square-foot project by Nov. 1. Garco plans to work on the project through the winter and to complete it next May, he says.


Garco also is doing the design work on the project, Schafer says.


The project site is on 5 acres of land at 4414 E. Trent, next to Modern Machinerys longtime location at 4412 E. Trent. Modern Machinery plans to move out of its three-building, 15,000-square-foot complex there when the project is complete, he says.


A Modern Machinery spokesman was unavailable for comment on the project.


Modern Machinery has been using the project site for its storage and equipment yard, Schafer says, adding that it plans to move the yard behind the planned building.


The project includes a 6,000-square-foot office-display area, a 7,300-square-foot parts-and-warehouse section, a 14,200-square-foot shop, and a 4,100-square-foot service area, Schafer says. The shell of the main structure will consist of concrete tilt-up panels, and the office will have a wood frame and heavy-timbered accents, he says.


The company was founded in Spokane in 1944 and was acquired by Missoula-based Washington Corp. in 1976.


The company has 11 branches in Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Oregon, and one branch in Russia.


Modern Machinery said in July that it employs 370 workers companywide, up from about 300 employees two years ago. It bought the rights to Nanaimo, British Columbia-based Madill Equipment Co.s line of logging equipment in July.