The financial terms of the lease agreement have not being disclosed. Titan is a government contractor and its lease commitment represents one of the few positive economic side effects of the current war in Iraq--increased demand for space by defense-industry related businesses.

"The signing of this lease is significant for Corporate Office Properties in that it represents an acceleration, by at least a year, of the development schedule for this building," COPT president and COO Randall M. Griffin says of the deal. Titan's eventual home will mark COPT's twelfth office building in the 175-acre, 1.5-million-sf park, which boasts a 100% occupancy level among all of the completed structures.

COPT officials' further development of the park is planned for the accommodation of new tenants as well as the expansion of existing occupants. Earlier this year, Griffin pointed out in a written statement that, "the company's ability to meet increased space needs for existing tenants in the park as they continue to grow is key to our strategy."