HITT Contracting, a US-based commercial builder, has broken ground on its new headquarters in Falls Church, Virginia, a short distance from Washington, D.C, US.
The six-storey building, spanning 270,000ft², aims to deliver 'impactful change' through sustainability, research and development, and a collaboration between industry and academia.
The new facility will house a 40,000ft² research lab, developed in partnership with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's Coalition for Smart Construction.
This initiative aims to tackle pressing issues in the construction industry such as sustainability, workforce shortages, and material innovation.
Designed by Gensler, an architecture, design, and planning company, the headquarters is targeting Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification and aims to meet net-zero energy and carbon goals.
The building will be equipped with a 100,000ft² solar canopy and wind turbines to offset its energy consumption completely.
Additional sustainable features include an advanced 'power over ethernet' system for lighting, electrical power, and data, and office furniture made from recycled materials using HITT's 3D printing technology.
The building will also feature the HyperWall building envelope system, developed with building composites, offering a lighter, stronger, and more efficient construction solution.
The project is expected to be completed in early 2027.
The headquarters' location at 7125 West Falls Station Boulevard, near the West Falls Church Metro station, will offer convenient mass transit access for over 900 local team members.
HITT Contracting chief executive officer Kim Roy said: "As we break ground on our new headquarters, we're laying the foundation for innovation, progress, and collaboration.
"This building is so much more than an office - it's a beacon of what's possible when curiosity, ingenuity, and determination fuse to create a new vision.
"Together, we can imagine the future and help to develop the technology and the talent to get it there."
