November 10, 2005 (Bethel, CT) — Worth Construction Corp, Inc., a major construction company in the Northeast and among the nation's ENR Top 400 Contractors, today announced substantial progress on the building of the new Putnam County Courthouse located in the Putnam County Municipal complex on Gleneida Avenue, Carmel, New York. Construction on this $24.7 million county building project began in September and is expected to be completed in the fall, 2007. The new courthouse will replace the current building which is the second-oldest courthouse in the nation.

Upon completion, the Putnam County Courthouse will be a fine example of contemporary architecture as applied to a government building. The building will be surrounded by beautifully landscaped grounds with open areas for public use and enjoyment. This five-story, 60,000 square foot steel structure will consist of an underground lower level open to one side. The exterior walls will be covered with brick and architectural pre-cast stone and masonry façade, capped by a visually stunning copper green patina metal roof.


Excavation for the building is mostly complete. The relocation of the area sewer is currently underway as is work on the foundation and a retaining wall for the courthouse. Currently, overhead telephone lines are being removed and relocated. Excavation for the other site utilities will begin in early December and will be an ongoing task over the entire duration of the project. Additionally, work to relocate a portion of School Street to the east to accommodate the security parking area for the courthouse will take place mid-December. The parking deck entry will be relocated to the south of its current location mid-to-late December and the building of the steel superstructure (the columns and beams for the courthouse) will begin mid-January.

"We are currently ahead of schedule," said Joseph Pontoriero, President of Worth Construction Company. "Work on the lower level of the courthouse is underway. The project is running smoothly and we have every intention of completing the job on time as expected."

The interior space is well planned with rooms for holding cells, jury deliberation, reporters, media and the press. The lobbies will have high octagonal ceilings with plaster veneer walls and stone floors. The courtrooms will also have high plaster veneer ceilings and will be complemented with wood paneling and dental molding. Security at the lobby entrance is outfitted with magnetometers, high glass partitions and an x-ray machine.

"Worth Construction is thrilled to develop this much anticipated courthouse in Putnam County," said Mr. Pontoriero. "We believe the residents of the County will be pleased with the interior spaciousness of their new building and will find it to be a fine addition to their day-to-day needs as they make use of the offices of the County Government.
After all the work is completed, Putnam County will indeed have a first-class courthouse facility that will be the crowning jewel of the municipal complex."


ABOUT WORTH CONSTRUCTION
Founded in 1978, Worth is a major construction company in the Northeast and among the nation's ENR Top 400 Contractors. The company is a leader in institutional construction with a strong reputation for efficient, on-time completions in healthcare, educational, and municipal construction projects. Worth has been recognized as an extremely competitive, diversified contractor and construction manager. The company's consistent record of on-time and within budget completions stems from its ability to control the many variables in today's construction process.