Exhibit 10.62


                                PROMISSORY NOTE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                 <C>              <C>         <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>          <C>       <C>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Principal        Loan Date       Maturity     Loan No    Call   Collateral   Account    Officer    Initials
$250,000.00      11-10-1999      02-08-2000     585059    004A      905                    GRS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     References in the shaded area are for Lender's use only and do not limit the applicability of this document to any particular
loan or item.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BORROWER: HLM DESIGN, INC. (TIN: 56-2018819)      LENDER: FIRST CHARTER NATIONAL BANK
          121 WEST TRADE STREET, SUITE 2950               P.O. BOX 228
          CHARLOTTE, NC 28202                             CONCORD, NC 28026-0228
==============================================================================================================
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT: $250,000.00       INITIAL RATE: 9.250%        DATE OF NOTE: NOVEMBER 10, 1999
</TABLE>
PROMISE TO PAY. HLM DESIGN, INC. ("BORROWER") PROMISES TO PAY TO FIRST CHARTER
NATIONAL BANK ("LENDER"), OR ORDER, IN LAWFUL MONEY OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA, THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND & 00/100 DOLLARS
($250,000.00), TOGETHER WITH INTEREST ON THE UNPAID PRINCIPAL BALANCE FROM
NOVEMBER 10, 1999, UNTIL PAID IN FULL.

PAYMENT. BORROWER WILL PAY THIS LOAN IN ONE PRINCIPAL PAYMENT OF $250,000.00
PLUS INTEREST ON FEBRUARY 8, 2000.  THIS PAYMENT DUE FEBRUARY 8, 2000, WILL BE
FOR ALL PRINCIPAL AND ACCRUED INTEREST NOT YET PAID.  The annual interest rate
for this Note is computed on a 365/360 basis; that is, by applying the ratio of
the annual interest rate over a year of 360 days, multiplied by the outstanding
principal balance, multiplied by the actual number of days the principal balance
is outstanding.  Borrower will pay Lender at Lender's address shown above or at
such other place as Lender may designate in writing.  Unless otherwise agreed or
required by applicable law, payments will be applied first to accrued unpaid
interest, then to principal, and any remaining amount to any unpaid collection
costs and late charges.

VARIABLE INTEREST RATE. The interest rate on this Note is subject to change from
time to time based on changes in an independent index which is the Prime Rate as
published in the Wall Street Journal. When a range of rates has been published,
the higher of the rates will be used (the "Index"). The Index is not necessarily
the lowest rate charged by Lender on its loans. If the Index becomes unavailable
during the term of this loan, Lender may designate a substitute Index after
notice to Borrower. Lender will tell Borrower the current Index rate upon
Borrower's request. Borrower understands that Lender may make loans based on
other rates as well. The interest rate change will not occur more often than
each day. THE INDEX CURRENTLY IS 8.250% PER ANNUM. THE INTEREST RATE TO BE
APPLIED TO THE UNPAID PRINCIPAL BALANCE OF THIS NOTE WILL BE AT A RATE OF 1.000
PERCENTAGE POINT OVER THE INDEX, RESULTING IN AN INITIAL RATE OF 9.250% PER
ANNUM. NOTICE: Under no circumstances will the interest rate on this Note be
more than the maximum rate allowed by applicable law.

PREPAYMENT. Borrower may pay without penalty all or a portion of the amount owed
earlier than it is due.  Early payments will not, unless agreed to by Lender in
writing, relieve Borrower of Borrower's obligation to continue to make payments
under the payment schedule.  Rather, they will reduce the principal balance due.

DEFAULT. Borrower will be in default if any of the following happens: (a)
Borrower fails to make any payment when due. (b) Borrower breaks any promise
Borrower has made to Lender, or Borrower fails to comply with or to perform when
due any other term, obligation, convenant, or condition contained in this Note
or any agreement related to this Note, or in any other agreement or loan
Borrower has with Lender. (c) Any representation or statement made or furnished
to Lender by Borrower or on Borrower's behalf is false or misleading in any
material respect either now or at the time made or furnished. (d) Borrower
becomes insolvent, a receiver is appointed for any part of Borrower's property,
Borrower makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or any proceeding is
commenced either by Borrower or against Borrower under any bankruptcy or
insolvency laws. (e) Any creditor tries to take any of Borrower's property on or
in which Lender has a lien or security interest.  This includes a garnishment of
any of Borrower's accounts with Lender. (f) Any guarantor dies or any of the
other events described in this default section occurs with respect to any
guarantor of this Note. (g) A material adverse change occurs in Borrower's
financial condition, or Lender believes the prospect of payment or performance
of the indebtedness is impaired. (h) Lender in good faith deems itself insecure.

LENDER'S RIGHTS. Upon default, Lender may declare the entire unpaid principal
balance on this Note and all accrued unpaid interest immediately due, without
notice, and then Borrower will pay that amount.  Lender may hire or pay someone
else to help collect this Note if Borrower does not pay.  Borrower also will pay
Lender that amount.  This includes, subject to any limits under applicable law,
Lender's reasonable attorneys' fees and Lender's legal expenses whether or not
there is a lawsuit, including reasonable attorneys' fees and legal expenses for
bankruptcy proceedings (including efforts to modify or vacate any automatic stay
or injunction), appeals, and any anticipated post-judgment collection services.
If not prohibited by applicable law, Borrower also will pay any court costs, in
addition to all other sums provided by law.  THIS NOTE HAS BEEN DELIVERED TO
LENDER AND ACCEPTED BY LENDER IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.  IF THERE IS A
LAWSUIT, BORROWER AGREES UPON LENDER'S REQUEST TO SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF
THE COURTS OF CABARRUS COUNTY, THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.  THIS NOTE SHALL BE
GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NORTH
CAROLINA.

RIGHT OF SETOFF. Borrower grants to Lender a contractual security interest in,
and hereby assigns, conveys, delivers, pledges, and transfers to Lender all
Borrower's right, title and interest in and to, Borrower's accounts with Lender
(whether checking, savings, or some other account), including without limitation
all accounts Borrower may open in the future, excluding however all IRA and
Keogh accounts, and all trust accounts for which the grant of a security
interest would be prohibited by law.  Borrower authorizes Lender, to the extent
permitted by applicable law, to charge or setoff all sums owing on this Note
against any and all such accounts, and, at Lender's option, to administratively
freeze all such accounts to allow Lender to protect Lender's charge and setoff
rights provided on this paragraph.

COLLATERAL. This Note is secured by SEE ATTACHED UCC-5 FILED 9-21-98 (NC
SECRETARY OF STATE-19980067927); ATTACHED UCC-5 FILED 9-21-98 (MECKLENBURG
COUNTY-13223) AND THE CORPORATE GUARANTORS OF HLM DESIGN OF THE NORTHAMERICA,
INC. (42-1414522), HLM DESIGN OF THE SOUTHEAST, P.C. (56-1981021), HLM DESIGN OF
THE NORTHWEST, ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND PLANNING, P.C. (56-2041359), JPJ
ARCHITECTS, INC. ().

GENERAL PROVISIONS. Lender may delay or forgo enforcing any of its rights or
remedies under this Note without losing them.  Borrower and any other person who
signs, guarantees or endorses this Note, to the extent allowed by law, waive
presentment, demand for payment, protest and notice of dishonor.  Upon any
change in the terms of this Note, and unless otherwise expressly stated in
writing, no party who signs this Note, whether as maker, guarantor,
accommodation maker or endorser, shall be released from liability.  All such
parties agree that Lender may renew or extend (repeatedly and for any length of
time) this loan, or release any party or guarantor or collateral; or impair,
fail to realize upon or perfect Lender's security interest in the collateral;
and take any other action deemed necessary by Lender without the consent of or
notice to anyone.  All such parties also agree that Lender may modify this loan
without the consent of or notice to anyone other than the party with whom the
modification is made.

PRIOR TO SIGNING THIS NOTE, BORROWER READ AND UNDERSTOOD ALL THE PROVISIONS OF
THIS NOTE, INCLUDING THE VARIABLE INTEREST RATE PROVISIONS.  BORROWER AGREES TO
THE TERMS OF THE NOTE AND ACKNOWLEDGES RECEIPT OF A COMPLETED COPY OF THE NOTE.

BORROWER:
HLM DESIGN, INC.

BY: /s/ Vernon B. Brannon      (SEAL)
   ----------------------------
        VERNON B. BRANNON, CFO