DATE: Wednesday, July 9, 1997               TAG: 9707090399

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B4   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: STAFF REPORT 

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   27 lines

FIRE AT BEACH ARCHITECT FIRM RULED AS ARSON

Investigators have ruled as arson a fire that destroyed the main office of The TAF Group, a prominent local design and development firm that designed Scope, Chrysler Hall, the Harrison Opera House and the Pavilion Convention Center.

The fire, which caused more than $2 million in damage to the building located at 100 Landmark Square in Virginia Beach, is being investigated by the city's fire department and the Tidewater Regional Arson Panel.

More than 20 city fire units and 70 firefighters responded to last Thursday's fire, the second to hit the firm's headquarters in 2 1/2 years. The last fire destroyed a third of the headquarters building but was rebuilt.

The TAF Group is a multi-purpose architectural, engineering and construction company that employs 130 people. It was formed from 1994 through 1996 by the mergers of four well-known South Hampton Roads firms. They included the Talbot Group; Walsh-Ashe and Associates; Forterra Construction Co. and Williams, Tazewell and Associates.

Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call the fire department at 427-4228 or Crime Solvers at 427-0000. KEYWORDS: FIRE ARSON

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