Exhibit 10.45

                           GOODWILL PURCHASE AGREEMENT


         This Goodwill Purchase Agreement (the "Agreement"), dated as of the
28th day of April, 2000, is by and between HLM DESIGN, INC. (the "Purchaser")
and SCOTT L. BRADY, P.E. ("Seller").


                                    Agreement
                                    ---------

         Purchaser and Seller are parties to a Stock Purchase Agreement (the
"Stock Purchase Agreement") dated April 28, 2000, concerning the sale and
purchase of all of the outstanding capital stock of BL&P Engineers, Inc. (the
"Company") by Purchaser from Seller. In connection with and pursuant to the
Stock Purchase Agreement, Purchaser and Seller have also agreed to the sale and
purchase of the Seller's Goodwill (defined below) pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement.

         In consideration of the respective covenants, representations and
warranties herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the
parties hereto agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I.
                                PURCHASE AND SALE
                                -----------------

         1.1 Agreement to Sell. At the Closing hereunder (as defined in Section
2.1 hereof) and except as otherwise specifically provided in this Section 1.1,
Seller shall grant, sell, convey, assign, transfer and deliver to Purchaser,
upon and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, all right, title
and interest of Seller in and to all of his personal goodwill attributable and
relating to the Company, its customers, business and accounts (the "Goodwill"),
free and clear of all mortgages, liens, pledges, security interests, charges,
claims, restrictions and encumbrances of any nature whatsoever.

         1.2 Agreement to Purchase. At the Closing hereunder, Purchaser shall
purchase the Goodwill from Seller, upon and subject to the terms and conditions
of this Agreement and in reliance on the representations, warranties and
covenants of Seller contained herein, in exchange for the Purchase Price
(hereinafter defined in Section 1.3 hereof).

<PAGE>

         1.3 The Purchase Price. The Purchase Price shall be $1,556,000.00. The
Purchase Price shall be paid to Seller by way of a subordinated promissory note
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Note"). Seller
shall, as a condition to closing, execute and deliver the Seller Subordination
Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the "Subordination
Agreement").

                                   ARTICLE II.
                   CLOSING, ITEMS TO BE DELIVERED, THIRD PARTY
                         CONSENTS AND FURTHER ASSURANCES
                         -------------------------------

         2.1 Closing. The closing (the "Closing") of the sale and purchase of
the Goodwill shall take place on or before April 28, 2000 (or such date either
prior or subsequent thereto as the parties hereto shall mutually agree), in the
offices of the Company in Dallas, Texas (or at such other place as the parties
hereto shall mutually agree). The date of the Closing is sometimes herein
referred to as the "Closing Date".

         2.2 Items to be Delivered at Closing. At the Closing and subject to the
terms and conditions herein contained:

                  (a) Seller shall deliver to Purchaser the following:

                           (i) such bills of sale with covenants of warranty,
                  assignments, endorsements, and other good and sufficient
                  instruments and documents of conveyance and transfer, in form
                  reasonably satisfactory to Purchaser and its counsel, as shall
                  be necessary and effective to transfer and assign to, and vest
                  in, Purchaser all of Seller's right, title and interest in and
                  to the Goodwill.

                           (ii) the Subordination Agreement.

                  (b) Purchaser shall deliver to Seller the following:

                           (i) the Note.

         2.3 Further Assurances. Seller from time to time after the Closing, at
Purchaser's request, will execute, acknowledge and deliver to Purchaser such
other instruments of conveyance and transfer and will take such other actions
and execute and deliver such other documents, certifications and further
assurances as Purchaser my reasonably require in order to vest more effectively
in Purchaser, or to put Purchaser more fully in possession of any

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<PAGE>

of the Goodwill. Each of the parties hereto will cooperate with the other and
execute and deliver to the other parties hereto such other instruments and
documents and take such other actions as may be reasonably requested from time
to time by any other part hereto as necessary to carry out, evidence and confirm
the intended purposes of this Agreement.

                                  ARTICLE III.
                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         3.1 Representations and Warranties of the Seller. The Seller hereby
represents and warrants to Purchaser that:

                  3.1.1 Authority; Enforceable Obligations. The Seller has the
         authority and legal right to execute, deliver and perform this
         Agreement. This Agreement has been, and the other agreements, documents
         and instruments required to be delivered by Seller in accordance with
         the provisions hereof (the "Seller's Documents") will be duly executed
         and delivered by Seller, and this Agreement constitutes, and the
         Seller's Documents when executed and delivered will constitute, the
         legal, valid and binding obligations of Seller, enforceable against him
         in accordance with their respective terms.

                  3.1.2 Validity of Contemplated Transactions, Etc. The
         execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Seller does
         not and will not violate, conflict with or result in the breach of any
         term, condition or provision of, or require the consent of any other
         person under, (a) any existing law, ordinance, or governmental rule or
         regulation to which Seller is subject, (b) any judgment, order, writ,
         injunction, decree or award of any court, arbitrator or governmental or
         regulatory official, body or authority which is applicable to Seller,
         or (c) any agreement, contract, commitment, Authorization (hereinafter
         defined in Section 3.1.7), or other instrument, document or
         understanding, oral or written, to which Seller is a party, by which
         Seller may have rights or by which any of the Goodwill may be bound or
         affected, or give any party with rights thereunder the right to
         terminate, modify, accelerate or otherwise change the existing rights
         or obligations of Seller thereunder. Except as aforesaid, no
         authorization, approval or consent of, and no registration or filing
         with, any governmental or regulatory official, body or authority is
         required in connection with the

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<PAGE>

         execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by Seller.

                  3.1.3 No Third Party Options. There are no existing
         agreements, options, commitments or rights with, of or to any person to
         acquire any of the Goodwill or any interest therein.

                  3.1.4 Title to Goodwill. Seller has good, valid and marketable
         title to the Goodwill free and clear of all mortgages, liens, pledges,
         security interests, charges, claims, restrictions and other
         encumbrances and defects of title of any nature whatsoever.

                  3.1.5 Compliance with Law; Authorizations. Seller has complied
         with each, and is not in violation of any, law, ordinance, or
         governmental or regulatory rule or regulation, whether federal, state,
         local or foreign, to which Seller's business, operations, assets or
         properties is subject ("Regulations"). Seller owns, holds, possesses or
         lawfully uses all licenses, permits, rights, applications, filings,
         registrations and other authorizations ("Authorizations") which are in
         any manner necessary for the ownership and use of the Goodwill free and
         clear of all liens, charges, restrictions and encumbrances and in
         compliance with all Regulations. Seller is not in default, nor has it
         received any notice of any claim of default, with respect to any such
         Authorization. None of such Authorizations will be adversely affected
         by consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

                  3.1.6 Litigation. No litigation, including any arbitration,
         investigation or other proceeding of or before any court, arbitrator or
         governmental or regulatory official, body or authority is pending or,
         to the knowledge of Seller, threatened against Seller or which relates
         to the Goodwill or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, nor
         does Seller know of any reasonably likely basis for any such
         litigation, arbitration, investigation or proceeding, the result of
         which could adversely affect Seller, the Goodwill or the transactions
         contemplated hereby.

                  3.1.7 Restrictions. Seller is not a party to any agreement,
         contract, commitment, authorization or other instrument, document or
         understanding, oral or written, which materially adversely affects or
         materially restricts or, so far as Seller can now reasonably foresee,
         may in the future


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<PAGE>

         materially adversely affect or materially restrict use of the Goodwill
         after consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

         3.2 Representations and Warranties of Purchaser. Purchaser represents
and warrants to Seller as follows:

                  3.2.1 Corporate Existence. Purchaser is a corporation duly
         organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
         State of Delaware.

                  3.2.2 Corporate Power and Authorization. Purchaser has the
         corporate power, authority and legal right to execute, deliver and
         perform this Agreement. The execution, delivery and performance of this
         Agreement by Purchaser have been duly authorized by all necessary
         corporate action. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered
         by Purchaser and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of
         Purchaser enforceable against Purchaser in accordance with its terms.

                  3.2.3 Validity of Contemplated Transactions, Etc. The
         execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Purchaser does
         not and will not violate, conflict with or result in the breach of any
         term, condition or provision of, or require the consent of any other
         party to, (a) any existing law, ordinance, or governmental rule or
         regulation to which Purchaser is subject, (b) any judgment, order,
         writ, injunction, decree or award of any court, arbitrator or
         governmental or regulatory official, body or authority which is
         applicable to Purchaser, (c) the charter documents or Bylaws of, or any
         securities issued by, Purchaser, or (d) any mortgage, indenture,
         agreement, contract, commitment, lease, plan or other instrument,
         document or understanding, oral or written, to which Purchaser is a
         party or by which Purchase is otherwise bound. Except as aforesaid, no
         authorization, approval or consent of, and no registration or filing
         with, any governmental or regulatory official, body or authority is
         required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of
         this Agreement by Purchaser.

         3.3 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and
warranties made by the parties in this Agreement or in any certificate,
schedule, statement, document or instrument furnished hereunder or in connection
with negotiation, execution and performance of this Agreement shall survive the

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<PAGE>

Closing until the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations with
respect to any and all claims in connection therewith. Notwithstanding any
investigation or audit conducted before or after the Closing Date or the
decision of any party to complete the Closing, each party shall be entitled to
rely upon the representations and warranties set forth herein and therein.

         3.4 Indemnification and Setoff. After the Closing Date, the Seller
shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Purchaser as hereinafter provided
against and in respect of any and all damage, loss, liability, cost or expense
(including, unless otherwise provided herein, the reasonable fees and expenses
of counsel and any tax liability resulting from any indemnity payment made
hereunder) resulting from, or in respect of, (a) any misrepresentation or breach
of warranty of the Seller or nonfulfillment of any obligation on the part of the
Seller under this Agreement, or from any misrepresentation in or omission from
any certificate, Schedule, Exhibit, related agreement, financial statement, or
instrument delivered by or on behalf of the Seller hereunder, and (b) all
expenses and costs, including but not limited to legal fees, reasonably paid or
incurred in connection with any of the foregoing. Without limiting its other
rights and remedies hereunder, and in addition to its rights and remedies in
this Agreement provided, the Purchaser shall have the right to withhold and
setoff against payments otherwise due and payable to the Seller hereunder the
amount of any damages either suffers as a result of any breach by the Seller of
any representation, warranty, agreement or term hereof or of the Stock Purchase
Agreement and for any and all amounts with respect to which the Purchaser is
entitled to indemnification as provided in this Section 3.4 hereof.

                                   ARTICLE IV.
                       CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE CLOSING

         4.1 Conditions Precedent to Purchaser's Obligations. All obligations of
Purchaser under this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment or satisfaction,
prior to or at the Closing, of each of the following conditions precedent:

                  4.1.1 Representations and Warranties True as of the Closing
         Date. The representations and warranties of Seller contained in this
         Agreement or in any certificate or document delivered by Seller to
         Purchaser pursuant to the provisions hereof shall have been true on the
         date hereof and shall be

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<PAGE>

         true on the Closing Date with the same effect as though such
         representations and warranties were made as of such date.

                  4.1.2 Compliance with this Agreement. Seller shall have
         performed and complied with all agreements and conditions required by
         this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it prior to or at
         the Closing.

                  4.1.3 No Threatened or Pending Litigation. On the Closing
         Date, no suit, action or other proceeding, or injunction or final
         judgment relating thereto, shall be threatened or be pending before any
         court or governmental or regulatory official, body or authority in
         which it is sought to restrain or prohibit or to obtain damages or
         other relief in connection with this Agreement or the consummation of
         the transactions contemplated hereby, and no investigation that might
         result in any such suit, action or proceeding shall be pending or
         threatened.

                  4.1.4 Consents and Approvals. All consents required by the
         terms of the contracts, commitments or agreements applicable to Seller
         shall have been obtained.

                  4.1.5 Approval of Counsel; Corporate Matters. All actions,
         proceedings, resolutions, instruments and documents required to carry
         out this Agreement or incidental hereto and all other related legal
         matters shall have been approved on the Closing Date by counsel for
         Purchaser, in the exercise of their reasonable judgment.

                  4.1.6 Closing Under Stock Purchase Agreement. Seller shall
         have performed and complied with all agreements and conditions required
         of it under the Stock Purchase Agreement
         and the transactions contemplated thereunder shall have closed.

         4.2 Conditions Precedent to the Obligations of Seller. All obligations
of Seller under this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment or satisfaction,
prior to or at the Closing, of each of the following conditions precedent:

                  4.2.1 Representations and Warranties True as of the Closing
         Date. The representations and warranties of Purchaser contained in this
         Agreement or in any certificate or document delivered by Purchaser to
         Seller pursuant to the provisions hereof shall be true on the Closing
         Date with the same effect
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<PAGE>

         as though such representations and warranties were made as of such
         date.

                  4.2.2 Compliance with this Agreement. Purchaser shall have
         performed and complied with all agreements and conditions required by
         this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it prior to or at
         the Closing.

                  4.2.3 Closing Under Stock Purchase Agreement. Purchaser shall
         have performed and complied with all agreements and conditions required
         of it under the Stock Purchase Agreement and the transactions
         contemplated thereunder shall have closed.

                                    ARTICLE V
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         5.1 Amendment and Modification. This Agreement may be amended, modified
and supplemented at any time with respect to any of the terms contained herein,
by a written agreement signed by all of the parties hereto.

         5.2 Waiver. The failure of any party hereto to comply with any
obligation, covenant, agreement or condition herein may be waived in writing by
the other party or parties hereto affected thereby, but such waiver shall not
operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent waiver or
other failure. Whenever this Agreement requires or permits consent by or on
behalf of any party hereto, such consent shall be given in writing.

         5.3 Notices. All notices, claims, requests, demands or other
communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been duly given when delivered by hand, by first class certified
mail, return receipt requested, with postage paid, or by receipted overnight
courier service to the intended recipient at the address specified below or at
such other address as shall be designated by such party in any notice delivered
as above provided to the other parties hereto.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                      <C>
---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------

Notices to Purchaser:                    With a Copy to:
--------------------                     --------------
---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------


HLM Design, Inc.                         Underwood Kinsey Warren & Tucker, P.A.
Suite 2950                               Suite 2020
121 West Trade Street                    201 South College Street
Charlotte, NC   28202-5399               Charlotte, NC   28244-2020
---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
</TABLE>


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<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                      <C>
---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
ATTN:  Vernon B. Brannon                 ATTN:  Shirley J. Linn, Esq.
       Senior Vice President
---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------


---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
Notices to Seller:                       With a Copy to:
-----------------                        --------------
---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------

Scott L. Brady, P.E.                     Gardere & Wynne, L.L.P.
5908 Shorefront Lane                     3000 Thanksgiving Tower
Flower Mound, Texas 75022                1601 Elm Street
                                         Dallas, Texas 75201-4761
                                         Attn: Alan J. Perkins, Esq.
---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
</TABLE>

         5.4 Assignment. This Agreement and all of the provisions hereof shall
be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective heirs, successors and permitted assigns, but neither this Agreement
nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by
any of the parties hereto (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the
prior written consent of the other parties hereto; provided, that the Purchaser
may, without the prior written consent of the Seller and the Company, assign its
rights hereunder and under any other Contracts or documents executed or
delivered in connection herewith to (i) an affiliate of the Purchaser, or (ii)
its lenders as collateral in connection with the financing of the transactions
contemplated hereby; provided, further that in any such event the Purchaser
shall remain liable with respect to all of the Purchaser's obligations under
this Agreement or such other Contracts or documents notwithstanding Purchaser's
assignment pursuant hereto.

         5.5 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the
State of North Carolina, without regard to its principles of conflict of laws.

         5.6 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute
one and the same instrument.

         5.7 Headings. The Article and Section headings contained in this
Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the
meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

         5.8 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, with all Schedules and Exhibits
thereto, embodies the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto
with regard to the subject matter hereof and
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<PAGE>

supersedes all prior agreements, representations, warranties, promises,
covenants, arrangements and understandings, oral or written, express or implied,
among the parties with respect to such subject matter, including, but not
limited to, the letter of intent dated October 26, 1999. There are no
agreements, representations, warranties, promises, covenants, arrangements or
understandings among the parties hereto with respect to such subject matter
other than those expressly set forth or referred to herein.

         5.9 No Benefit. This Agreement shall not be construed so as to confer
any right or benefit upon any person other than the signatories to this
Agreement and each of their respective heirs, successors and permitted assigns.

         5.10 Delays or Omissions. No delay or omission to exercise any right,
power or remedy accruing to any party hereto upon any breach or default of
another party hereto under this Agreement shall impair any such right, power or
remedy of such party nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of any such breach
or default or an acquiescence therein or of or in any similar breach or default
thereafter occurring. All remedies, whether under this Agreement, by law or
otherwise, afforded to any party shall be cumulative and not alternative.

         5.11 Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be separable
and a determination that any provision of this Agreement is either unenforceable
or void shall not affect the validity of any other provision of this Agreement.
Wherever possible all provisions shall be interpreted so as not to be
unenforceable and any court of competent jurisdiction is authorized and directed
by the parties to enforce any otherwise unenforceable provision in part, to
modify it, to enforce it only to a degree and not fully, or otherwise to enforce
that provision only in a manner and to an extent, or for a shorter period of
time, that renders the provision valid or enforceable. The intent of the parties
is that this Agreement be enforceable and enforced to the maximum extent
possible after excising (or deeming excised) all invalid or unenforceable
provisions, whether or not the remaining provisions are grammatically correct.

         5.12 Expenses. The Seller and the Purchaser shall bear their respective
own expenses with respect to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby.

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<PAGE>


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this
Agreement on the date first written.


                                HLM DESIGN, INC.


                                By: /s/ Vernon B. Brannon
                                   ---------- -------------------------
                                         Vernon B. Brannon, Senior Vice
                                         President




                                /s/ Scott L. Brady           (SEAL)
                                    -------------------------
                                Scott L. Brady, P.E.



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