This is the third Orange County location for the company, adivision of The Home Depot, which previously opened design centersin Anaheim in August 2000 and in Huntington Beach in July 1999.Currently the company has 20 locations nationwide, with two newcenters scheduled to open in Concord and east Palo Alto, Californianext week.

In addition to being the first two-story structure for thecompany, the site is also larger than the average EXPO, measuring95,500 sf. Built on 4.5 acres of land, the structure's constructionis concrete tilt-up. Parking will be provided for 441 cars on theground level, with part of the parking covered by an overhang ofthe second floor of the center.

"The EXPO really takes off where The Home Depot stops," saysMelissa Watkins, public relations manager for EXPO. "You walk downthe hallway, and we have 20 vignettes of different kitchen layoutsand 80 bathrooms. You can touch and feel the different textures. Incertain markets we have professional services available."