Possible expansion in works for IBM.(Brief Article)

Big Blue's presence in Gaithersburg could get a lot bigger.

IBM is slated to take up to 450,000 square feet of a 1.45 million-square-foot office complex planned for a site next to its existing Gaithersburg building, according to plans filed recently in Gaithersburg.

District-based Monument Realty plans to build the eight-building complex on 34 acres near the intersection of Watkins Mill Road and Route 355, just off of Interstate 270. The company has a contract to buy the property from IBM.

Monument officials said they likely will begin two of the eight office buildings on a speculative basis -- that is, without tenants signed on.

Another two buildings are expected to serve IBM, though neither IBM nor Monument officials will say …