Spokane County and the Spokane Indians baseball club have begun work on a $1.7 million improvement project at Avista Stadium, says an Indians executive.

The work includes replacing the main concession building with a new 4,700-square-foot structure, remodeling the 3,570-square-foot administration building, and constructing a 1,700-square-foot addition for office space and a team store, says Otto Klein, senior vice president of the ballclub.

Other improvements involve updating the restrooms and repaving the outer concourse, Klein says.

Kilgore Construction Inc., of Colbert, is the contractor on the project, and ALSC Architects PS, of Spokane, designed it.

The project is scheduled to be completed in advance of the Spokane Indians' 2013 regular season, which starts in mid-June, Klein says.

During construction, the Indians front office will be located in the clubhouse on the first-base side of the stadium, he says.

Spokane County, which owns the stadium, is funding the project under a separate contract that county commissioners approved two years ago with Spokane Indians' ownership group Brett Sports & Entertainment Inc.

Avista Stadium, located at 602 N. Havana, next to the Spokane County Fair & Expo Center, was built in 1958. It has been named the Northwest League Field of the Year for eight consecutive years and 14 of the last 16 years.

The Spokane Indians team is a short-season, Class A affiliate of the Texas Rangers.