Spokane Public Schools says it has picked Garco Construction Inc., of Spokane, to handle structural steel and concrete work for the Ferris High School reconstruction and partial renovation project.

Garco had submitted a low bid of $7.9 million for the concrete and steel subcontractor work, says Greg Brown, the district's director of capital projects. Garco also is the general contractor and construction manager on the project, located at 3020 E. 37th, on Spokane's South Hill.

The concrete and steel to be supplied and installed by Garco will provide structural support for the project, which will include 183,700 square feet of new educational space and bring the total floor space for the school to 265,000 square feet, Brown says.

Garco's bid came in well below the budgeted cost estimate of $8.5 million, he says. The other bidders for the concrete and steel work were Bouten Construction Co. and Lydig Construction Inc., both of Spokane.

Brown says it's not unusual for a general contractor and construction manager to bid and win subcontractor work.

"They can self-perform up to 30 percent of the work," Brown says.

The Ferris project is the largest scheduled to be funded by a $288 million bond voters approved in 2009. The construction cost for the overall project is estimated at $55 million, and the total cost to equip and furnish the school is estimated at an additional $35 million.

The project will include three connected wings built in the space between the school's gymnasium and auditorium, which will be remodeled. Other buildings on the campus will be razed.

Initial site work began this spring, and the project is expected to be completed in late 2013 or early 2014.