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Construction.com Launches Virtual Plan Center

Project Center Adds Private Project Plans & Specifications Hosting & Distribution Capabilities, Complimenting the Industry's Largest Project Database

CHICAGO (June 19, 2001) — Construction.com, the most comprehensive online marketplace for construction professionals and part of The McGraw-Hill Companies' (NYSE: MHP) Construction Information Group (CIG), today announced the release of its Virtual Plan Center. This sophisticated application will allow owners, designers, contractors and sub-contractors to host, view and distribute plans and specifications either exclusively or to the greater construction community. The Virtual Plan Center will be accessed via construction.com's Project Center. Construction.com has already engaged in beta-testing with a select number of larger customers and are on schedule to have The Virtual Plan Center commercially operational for the entire industry by September.

When complete, the Virtual Plan Center will allow users, as the host, to post digital plans, specifications and notices into a secure location on construction.com. The host sets access and security requirements. The ability to view, transfer, download, fax, print, plot and order hard copy sets delivered overnight will be available immediately upon hosting. A series of tools are imbedded in the drawings such as a take-off utility and red-lining.

Recognizing an industry need, construction.com, in conjunction with e-Builder and F.W. Dodge, created this open, Web-based virtual plan center to allow all industry players access to technology that will enable the efficient distribution of contract documents. In the same turn, it is designed with restricted projects in mind, offering secure hosting and distribution of confidential project plans and specifications.

"The Virtual Plan Center was developed in response to owners and contractors who identified the distribution of plans and specifications as a major pain point in their current business process. Our experience and capabilities within F.W. Dodge have proven to drive savings and efficiencies for our customers. Our goal was to make available the F.W. Dodge & e-Builder technology and functionality to the entire industry through our portal, construction.com, " said Robert Amico, senior vice president and general manager of F.W. Dodge. "This new electronic plan center will allow those organizations that are engaged in document distribution to utilize our technology in a restricted, web based setting. We are confident that the users will see a rapid return on the investment."

F.W. Dodge, is the leading provider of construction project information, tools and services for the commercial construction industry, including operating the largest electronic plan database, which currently hosts over 60,000 sets of project plans and specifications. The Virtual Plan Center is an extension to the existing business services within Dodge, which also includes operating traditional plan rooms, scan centers, call centers and a plans and specifications hard copy service.

"The additional of the Virtual Plan Center will allow customers to utilize F.W. Dodge plan distribution services regardless of their technology threshold. Be it digital or paper, on the computer or in person, we will be able to work with the community in the manner in which they prefer," said Mr. Amico.

The system also allows for collaboration during the design and pre-construction phases. A version control function provides tracking and record keeping. Once a final set of construction documents is approved, the system provides distribution for pricing and bidding. The host will be able to establish a private, restricted list of those contractors, subcontractors, fabricators or suppliers to receive the documents, make the documents available through Dodge Plans & Specifications, or simply invite others to view the documents prior to distribution. Associations and enterprises will have the option of selecting a "Private Label" version of the Virtual Plan Center.

Distribution can be via the Internet, on a CD Rom, or via hard copy delivered overnight. As addendums are produced or construction requirements change, the host can insure proper notification and acknowledgement via the system. At the completion of the project an archiving service is available, providing a permanent record of all changes and document distribution.

About F.W. Dodge
F.W. Dodge is the project marketplace for the construction community and is part of the McGraw-Hill Construction Information Group. F.W. Dodge is the premier source for project information, plans and specifications, and industry analyses and forecasts. F.W. Dodge has offices throughout the U.S. and Canada.

About construction.com
Construction.com is the industry marketplace that enables construction professionals to do their job faster, better and cheaper. Building on The McGraw-Hill Companies' heritage as the world's premier information provider to the $1.7 trillion commercial construction industry, construction.com uses the Internet to help its customers to get the latest industry intelligence and interactive solutions that help professional decision-makers do their jobs successfully. By leveraging the powerful content of the McGraw-Hill Construction Information Group's leading brands, including F.W. Dodge, Sweet's, Engineering News-Record, Architectural Record, and Design-Build, construction.com integrates unmatched market intelligence, unique project management tools, and end-to-end access to the construction community. The Construction Information Group employs more than 1,700 professionals around the world.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies
Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies is a global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in financial services, education and business-to-business information through leading brands such as Standard & Poor's, BusinessWeek and McGraw-Hill Education. The Corporation has more than 300 offices in 33 countries. Sales in 2000 were $4.3 billion. Additional information is available at www.mcgraw-hill.com.

F.W. Dodge Contacts:
Mary Skafidas
The McGraw-Hill Companies
212.512.2826
mary_skafidas@mcgraw-hill.com

John Puccio
RF Binder Partners
212.593.6389
puccioj@ruderfinn.com