WASHINGTON, D.C. - The D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission has awarded Clark/Hunt/Smoot, A Joint Venture the contract to build the new Major League Ballpark in Washington, D.C. The new ballpark will be located at the base of the South Capitol Street Bridge along the Anacostia Waterfront, and will serve as the new home of the Washington Nationals baseball team. The 1,050,000-gross-square-foot facility, which is currently in the design development phase, will seat approximately 41,000 fans.

"As members of the Washington, D.C. community for nearly 100 years, Clark Construction is thrilled to be a part of this important milestone in the city's history," said William L. Talbert, president of Clark's Mid-Atlantic Region. "Along with Hunt Construction Group and Smoot Construction of Washington, D.C., our joint venture partners, we are excited to be building the Nationals' new ballpark, and look forward to constructing a facility of which the nation's capital can be proud."

The joint venture architectural team of HOK Sport of Kansas City and Devrouax & Purnell of Washington, D.C. (HOK/D&P) is working with the Commission to design a unique, iconic facility that will serve as a gateway to the nation's capital from the south. The Nationals' ballpark will feature new innovations in building design and technology, while balancing an architectural presence fitting its location in Washington, D.C.

Clark/Hunt/Smoot, A Joint Venture is comprised of Clark Construction Group, LLC of Bethesda, Md., Hunt Construction Group of Indianapolis and Smoot Construction of Washington, D.C. The combined portfolio of these three firms includes the construction of 11 of the past 16 Major League Baseball ballparks built in the country. Ten of those projects featured HOK Sport, the nation's premier sports facility architect. Notable partnerships include PETCO Park in San Diego, Comerica Park in Detroit, and Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore. Clark and Smoot's Washington, D.C. portfolio also includes several projects with Devrouax & Purnell, most notably the $634 million Washington Convention Center.

The joint venture looks forward to working with its local, small, disadvantaged business enterprise (LSDBE) partners on this project, including Regional Contracting Services of Washington, D.C. and 11 other firms. These firms will learn about the Clark/Hunt/Smoot's management tools in order to foster long-term growth in their own businesses.

In the upcoming months, Clark/Hunt/Smoot will work with HOK/D&P and the Commission throughout the design development phase of the project, with construction beginning in early 2006.

The project is scheduled to be complete in time for the 2008 Major League Baseball season. For more information, visit www.dcballpark.com.