FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA — On Jan. 23, one of the coldest days in the D.C. region since 2018, Falls Church, Virginia-based HITT Contracting broke ground on its six-story, 270,000-square-foot headquarters that will emphasize sustainability and technology.
The building, designed by San Francisco-based architecture and design firm Gensler, will be powered by a 100,000-square-foot photovoltaic solar canopy and wind turbines, which the contractor said will offset all its energy needs, according to a news release. The company announced plans for the structure in November 2023.
It will also include an advanced power-over-ethernet system for lighting, electrical power, and data, alongside office furniture produced from recycled materials by HITT’s forthcoming 3D printing farm, per the release.
HITT CEO Kim Roy told Construction Dive she was looking forward to the photovoltaic array on the roof, which she said demonstrated the company’s commitment to sustainability.
“It’s very different — it’s a standout architectural feature, but also a physical representation of the impacts that builders should consider with energy usage and the environment,” Roy said.
The new home base will also contain a 40,000-square-foot research lab developed in partnership with Blacksburg, Virginia-based university Virginia Tech’s Coalition for Smart Construction, according to HITT.
Joined by government officials, company executives and Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot dog, a parade of speakers praised HITT’s plans and the company’s history in Fairfax County, Virginia, where the contractor has worked since 1937.
“Thank you, HITT, for your investment, and thank you for trusting Virginia with the future of your company,” said Juan Pablo Segura, Virginia’s chief deputy secretary of commerce and trade, in a speech to attendees.
The two organizations will study technologies such as robotics and prefabricated structural steel frames, and engage the construction industry regularly through research and demonstrations, according to Shannon Andrea, director of communications and marketing in the D.C. area for Virginia Tech.
“We are excited to partner with HITT and grow our network of innovation to address the future of smart construction,” said Julie Ross, Paul and Dorothea Torgersen Dean of Engineering at Virginia Tech, in the release. “Upon completion, this space will provide an opportunity to partner with industry in the development of new technologies and approaches that will transform the construction industry while supporting graduate student research and experiential learning.”
It will also be a short walk away from public transportation — commuters can take a bus or train to the nearby West Falls Church station, served by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, the Washington, D.C., area’s transit agency.
The company expects to deliver the headquarters by 2027, per the release.