A yellow steel beam, decorated with a LEGO brick tree and signed by dozens, was lifted into place Wednesday at Meadowville Technology Park in Chesterfield County. The event marked the topping-out ceremony for The LEGO Group’s new 1.7-million-square-foot manufacturing facility.
Governor Glenn Youngkin, along with local and state officials and representatives from The LEGO Group, attended the ceremony. The tradition signifies the placement of the final structural beam in the main production building.
“It’s incredible to witness what is being created here. It feels like we’re constructing our own massive LEGO set right before our eyes,” said Tyren Frazier, manager of social responsibility for LEGO.
The $1 billion campus is expected to begin operations in 2027 and will create more than 1,700 jobs across 13 buildings. Currently, LEGO employs 500 people at a temporary packaging site in Chesterfield County and hundreds more are working on construction daily under general contractor Gray Hourigan.
“Today marks the latest milestone in The LEGO Group’s investment in Chesterfield County. It’s an affirmation of why the county attracts leading global companies, because of our prime location, exceptional public education system and highly skilled workforce,” said Board of Supervisors Chair Jim Ingle (Bermuda District). “From creating jobs that will strengthen our economy to building a sustainable future for all through carbon-neutral and solar initiatives, LEGO’s work here exemplifies what it really means to be builders.”
Jesus Ibanez, general manager of LEGO’s Virginia manufacturing operations, explained that the new plant will add needed capacity to LEGO’s global supply chain as its seventh factory worldwide and second in North America. “With the opening of this factory, we will be able to shorten supply lines, respond more quickly to customer demand and reduce the environmental impact from shipping products over long distances. That’s a big deal, considering the U.S. is one of our fastest-growing markets,” he said.
LEGO announced plans for this facility in June 2022 after a competitive selection process by local and state economic development agencies; construction began last year.
“The LEGO boxes that are going to come out of this facility will have those magic words on them that say not only ‘Made in America,’ but ‘Made in Virginia.’ How about that?” Youngkin said.
“LEGO is so much more than a toy. It unlocks aspiration, inspiration and creativity,” he added. “To think about the children across Virginia and across this great country around the world who have that opportunity to crack open that box and begin to build — begin to build something that may not, in fact, look like a picture in the front of a box, to build something that reflects their view of what it might look like. That is what all of you are building. You are enabling the next generation of builders to start dreaming.”
Ingle also highlighted LEGO’s charitable contributions: “This year alone, more than 150 LEGO employees have contributed hundreds of volunteer hours to reach nearly 400,000 children with creative play and learning opportunities,” he said. “As construction continues, the board is proud to support the work of LEGO and the incredible local organizations that are finding new ways to bring the transformative power of play to our community’s children and families.”
