Lease terms with Northrop were not disclosed. Opus East did notreturn a call in time for publication.

Northrop Grumman has made a 10-year commitment to occupy thefive-story building, which is expected to deliver in Q3 2009. Thebuilding, which is being designed to LEED standards, is located inthe West*Quest Technology Park near the BWI Thurgood MarshallAirport at the intersection of West Nursery Rd and InternationalDr.

Northrop Grumman already maintains its headquarters for itsElectronic Systems sector in the area; the new building will allowit to consolidate a number of business activities that arecurrently housed in leased and company-owned facilities. Besidesthe improvement in operational efficiencies, "the newenergy-efficient facility will also enable optimum use of space byincorporating flexible office design concepts and will providegreater security within the West*Quest Technology Park, sinceNorthrop Grumman will remain the sole tenant," says John Chino,sector deputy and vice president and general manager of NorthropGrumman's Electronic Systems sector. The new office building willbe occupied by several hundred Northrop Grumman employees in thefirm's Advanced Concepts and Technology Division.