The project will cost $48 million to complete, a figure that reflects an increase of $4.6 million due to the recent skyrocketing jump in the cost of raw steel. In addition to classrooms, the new school facility will also feature a 900-seat auditorium, two gymnasiums, a media center, and science and technical laboratories. Hess is on target to complete construction of the school by July 2006.

With the Clarksburg project and another new educational facility in the works, Hess' high school engagements will continue, seamlessly, until mid-2008. The Gaithersburg, MD-based construction company just began the design process for East County High School, a 225,000-sf school in Frederick, MD, which will get underway in June 2006 and wrap up two years later.