Garco Construction has landed a major role in one of the Northwest’s growing semiconductor supply-chain investments, securing a $200 million expansion project for Solstice Advanced Materials in Spokane Valley, Washington. The project, which broke ground on Dec. 2, marks a significant step in boosting domestic production of materials essential to advanced chip manufacturing.
Solstice Advanced Materials, headquartered in Morris Plains, New Jersey, selected Spokane-based Garco to oversee construction for the 110,000-square-foot facility upgrade, the company confirmed to Construction Dive. The expansion will modernize, expand and retool Solstice’s existing production footprint with new manufacturing systems aimed at supporting the rapid acceleration of AI, high-speed computing and semiconductor innovation.
According to the company’s announcement, the facility will double Solstice’s output of sputtering targets, specialized components that are critical to producing high-speed interconnects used in modern logic and memory devices.
David Sewell, president and CEO of Solstice, said the company is investing to stay ahead of sharply increasing demand. “As demand accelerates for artificial intelligence, high-speed computing and connected technologies, we are preparing the Spokane facility to deliver the quality, reliability and scale our customers need to drive innovation,” Sewell said. “The expansion project underscores our commitment to strengthening supply chain resilience.”
Once complete, Solstice expects the expansion to deliver measurable operational gains. According to the release, the upgraded facility will reduce customer lead times by approximately 25%, thanks to new automation, streamlined production steps and advanced digital quality tools.
The project introduces several systemwide improvements, including:
Together, these upgrades are designed to boost yield, strengthen reliability and increase Solstice’s competitiveness in the global semiconductor materials sector.
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The Solstice expansion reinforces Garco Construction’s longstanding presence in the Spokane region and its experience delivering complex industrial and manufacturing work. Garco, along with Q&D Construction, previously completed core elements of the $150 million Spokane International Airport terminal expansion, the most significant upgrade in the airport’s history.
Founded in 1978, Garco has delivered more than 2,000 projects across 18 states, according to its website. The company’s portfolio spans manufacturing, civil infrastructure, industrial facilities and military installations, illustrating a broad capacity to execute technically demanding construction programs.
The Solstice expansion aligns with national efforts to bolster semiconductor supply chain resiliency. As chip manufacturers ramp up U.S. production, material suppliers like Solstice play a pivotal role in ensuring a reliable, high-quality upstream supply base. Industry analysts note that investments in components such as sputtering targets are essential for keeping fabrication timelines stable and enabling rapid scaling in response to technology-sector demands.
The new facility is slated to be fully operational by the end of 2029, positioning Spokane Valley as an increasingly important hub for advanced materials production tied to the semiconductor, AI and high-performance computing markets.
Originally reported by Sebastian Obando in Construction Dive.
