Contacts:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, April 30, 2002:

Fairfax, Virginia - HITT Contracting Inc., one of the Metro area's leading providers of base building construction, celebrated the completion of a substantial milestone in construction of the Fair Lakes 7 office building project, located in the rapidly expanding Fair Lakes area in Fairfax, Virginia. Held at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 30, 2002, this event, called a "topping-out," marked the completion of structural steel installation and placement of remaining concrete slabs for the 150,000 square foot, six-story building. This final step allows for the enclosed phase of construction to start. Key members of the construction team, including HITT, Davis · Carter · Scott, The Peterson Companies, and major trade subcontractors gathered at the site to witness the event and celebrate together.

The building's ground-up construction began in December and was ready for topping-out 15 weeks later. "We were able to complete this first phase of construction so quickly due to the seamless interface between all subcontractors, the Architect, the Owner, and HITT," said Dennis Krakower, HITT Senior Project Manager.

When completed, the commercial office space will be home to PEC Solutions' new expansion. Distinctive features of the building include a spandrel glass façade, three traction elevators, two stairwells, laboratory space, and a variable air volume system. The main lobby will boast stone flooring, custom cherry woodwork, stone paneled walls, and an elaborate cherry reception desk. Additional construction on the site will consist of a 192,000 s.f., 608-space parking structure adjacent to the office building and will feature an arched standing metal roofing for the stairwells and elevators within the structure.

"We are proud to be a part of this development, more so because the Fair Lakes area has become recognized as a location for high-quality buildings and is home to a growing number of progressive organizations," says Reginald Arnold, Vice President of HITT's Base Building division. "With an open location clearly visible from the heavily-used Fairfax County Parkway, this structure is an amazing site to watch progress."

About HITT Contracting Inc.
HITT Contracting was founded in 1937 and has grown to be ranked today among the 100 Largest General Contractors in the United States, with offices in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Charleston, and Baltimore. HITT Contracting provides award-winning turnkey construction services from changing a doorknob to complete delivery of headquarter facilities/campuses. The company has more than 600 employees, including a 325-member, skilled in-house field force available to fulfill the requirements of their expanding base of repeat and new clients. Their $410 million volume in 2001 comprises today's leading market sectors, including corporate base building and interiors, law firms, technology, biotech, institutional, government, aviation, and healthcare. For more information, please visit www.hitt-gc.com.