Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers will begin construction on new more permanent auction facilities at its Las Vegas auction site beginning March 2011 — a 33,000-sq. ft. auction theater building and a 1,900-sq. ft. equipment check-in building.

In August of this year, the company finished construction of a 9,000-sq. ft. refurbishment facility complete with an outdoor wash pad and paint and blasting booths.

Ritchie Bros. has been conducting auctions in Clark County (at 10500 Clark Petersen Blvd. since February 2008 when it signed a long-term lease for approximately 50 acres of developed land. The company has subsequently increased the property under lease to 76 acres. Auction facilities currently on the property include mobile trailers used to house customer registration and administration offices and a large tent to provide sheltered seating to bidders during auctions.

The new 33,000-sq. ft. auction facility will house administrative offices, a 550-seat auction theater and a 300-seat Virtual Ramp theater. Upon completion of the new facilities, Ritchie Bros. will implement its Timed Auction lot (TAL) system at the Las Vegas site. The TAL system will allow customers to bid on smaller items, such as attachments and consumer goods online at rbauction.com, through internet kiosks located at the auction site, or by proxy.