A rendering of Lego’s planned $1 billion, 1.7 million-square-foot factory, where the company will make Lego bricks and package its building-block kits. (Image courtesy of Lego Group)
With a ceremonial groundbreaking now in the books, Lego Group plans to start construction in a matter of months on its $1 billion factory in Chesterfield County.
The Danish toy company’s planned 1.7 million-square-foot factory in Meadowville Technology Park is expected to create more than 1,700 jobs over a 10-year period. The factory is also planned to feature solar panels to power the facility.
The completion of the facility and the start of production is expected in 2025. Site work is already underway.
Lego COO Carsten Rasmussen said he expected that construction on the manufacturing facility would start “in a few months.”
Lego marked the upcoming start of construction Thursday with an event attended by company representatives as well as Chesterfield, state and federal officials. On display at the event was a scale model of the Chesterfield factory made out of about 34,000 Lego bricks, as well as creations by RVA LUG, a local Lego hobbyist group.
Chesterfield Supervisor Kevin Carroll (on left) and Gov. Glenn Youngkin (center) at the groundbreaking ceremony for Lego’s upcoming Chesterfield manufacturing facility. (Jack Jacobs photos)
Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Rasmussen spoke during the event. U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Marisa Lago and National Association of Manufacturers President and CEO Jay Timmons were also among those who shared remarks at the event.
The Chesterfield factory will produce Lego bricks and package kits. It’s expected to be the company’s second factory in North America (the other one is in Mexico) and seventh factory globally.
The bid process for a general contractor is still ongoing, and that process is expected to wrap up over the summer, according to a Lego spokesman.
Locally based Timmons Group is the landscape architect. Danish companies COWI and Arkitema Architects are handling the project’s master plan and schematic design. North Carolina-based LS3P Associates is doing the construction drawings. The company spokesman said design work on the factory is still in process.
The manufacturing facility is set to rise on a 340-acre property at 1400 Meadowville Road. Lego acquired the land in late December from the Chesterfield Economic Development Authority. Rasmussen declined to discuss the terms of the acquisition of the land, which according to online Chesterfield records changed hands for $1. The land was most recently valued at $26.1 million.
On display during Lego’s groundbreaking ceremony for its upcoming Chesterfield factory was a scale model of the facility made of Lego bricks.
The Lego factory site is the last major piece of undeveloped land at the industrial park, Board of Supervisors Chairman Kevin Carroll said in his remarks at the event.
“This board of supervisors and staff have been intentionally saving the last large undeveloped parcel in the Meadowville technology center just for the right fit. It was project-ready, with all the zoning and infrastructure in place and great access to transportation,” he said.
Carroll also framed the Lego facility as a step forward for Chesterfield as it seeks to diversify its tax base. Chesterfield officials anticipate that the factory will generate $6.4 million in annual real estate revenue and an additional $700,00 in annual machinery and tools tax.
“The huge economic impact of the plant in Chesterfield County can’t be overstated,” Carroll said. “The contributions of the commercial tax revenue will significantly help fund public safety, schools and other public services while reducing the country’s reliance on the residential property taxes.”
Members of the local Lego club RVA LUG displayed their creations at the groundbreaking ceremony for Lego’s upcoming $1 billion factory in Chesterfield.
Lego has leased a temporary packaging facility at 1600 Ruffin Mill Road in Chesterfield. That facility is expected to begin operation in the first half of 2024. Lego plans to hire 500 people to staff that facility, and hiring is underway. The temporary packaging facility’s team is part of the overall headcount planned for the factory.
During the ceremony, Youngkin ceremoniously signed legislation that will tee up cash payments to Lego for the factory. Identical bills, Senate Bill 1134 and House Bill 2238, create the so-called Precision Plastic Manufacturing Grant Fund, which would award up to $56 million in grant funding between July 2027 and July 2035 if the company meets factory investment and hiring goals.
Lego announced the project in June.
A rendering of Lego’s planned $1 billion, 1.7 million-square-foot factory, where the company will make Lego bricks and package its building-block kits. (Image courtesy of Lego Group)
With a ceremonial groundbreaking now in the books, Lego Group plans to start construction in a matter of months on its $1 billion factory in Chesterfield County.
The Danish toy company’s planned 1.7 million-square-foot factory in Meadowville Technology Park is expected to create more than 1,700 jobs over a 10-year period. The factory is also planned to feature solar panels to power the facility.
The completion of the facility and the start of production is expected in 2025. Site work is already underway.
Lego COO Carsten Rasmussen said he expected that construction on the manufacturing facility would start “in a few months.”
Lego marked the upcoming start of construction Thursday with an event attended by company representatives as well as Chesterfield, state and federal officials. On display at the event was a scale model of the Chesterfield factory made out of about 34,000 Lego bricks, as well as creations by RVA LUG, a local Lego hobbyist group.
Chesterfield Supervisor Kevin Carroll (on left) and Gov. Glenn Youngkin (center) at the groundbreaking ceremony for Lego’s upcoming Chesterfield manufacturing facility. (Jack Jacobs photos)
Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Rasmussen spoke during the event. U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Marisa Lago and National Association of Manufacturers President and CEO Jay Timmons were also among those who shared remarks at the event.
The Chesterfield factory will produce Lego bricks and package kits. It’s expected to be the company’s second factory in North America (the other one is in Mexico) and seventh factory globally.
The bid process for a general contractor is still ongoing, and that process is expected to wrap up over the summer, according to a Lego spokesman.
Locally based Timmons Group is the landscape architect. Danish companies COWI and Arkitema Architects are handling the project’s master plan and schematic design. North Carolina-based LS3P Associates is doing the construction drawings. The company spokesman said design work on the factory is still in process.
The manufacturing facility is set to rise on a 340-acre property at 1400 Meadowville Road. Lego acquired the land in late December from the Chesterfield Economic Development Authority. Rasmussen declined to discuss the terms of the acquisition of the land, which according to online Chesterfield records changed hands for $1. The land was most recently valued at $26.1 million.
On display during Lego’s groundbreaking ceremony for its upcoming Chesterfield factory was a scale model of the facility made of Lego bricks.
The Lego factory site is the last major piece of undeveloped land at the industrial park, Board of Supervisors Chairman Kevin Carroll said in his remarks at the event.
“This board of supervisors and staff have been intentionally saving the last large undeveloped parcel in the Meadowville technology center just for the right fit. It was project-ready, with all the zoning and infrastructure in place and great access to transportation,” he said.
Carroll also framed the Lego facility as a step forward for Chesterfield as it seeks to diversify its tax base. Chesterfield officials anticipate that the factory will generate $6.4 million in annual real estate revenue and an additional $700,00 in annual machinery and tools tax.
“The huge economic impact of the plant in Chesterfield County can’t be overstated,” Carroll said. “The contributions of the commercial tax revenue will significantly help fund public safety, schools and other public services while reducing the country’s reliance on the residential property taxes.”
Members of the local Lego club RVA LUG displayed their creations at the groundbreaking ceremony for Lego’s upcoming $1 billion factory in Chesterfield.
Lego has leased a temporary packaging facility at 1600 Ruffin Mill Road in Chesterfield. That facility is expected to begin operation in the first half of 2024. Lego plans to hire 500 people to staff that facility, and hiring is underway. The temporary packaging facility’s team is part of the overall headcount planned for the factory.
During the ceremony, Youngkin ceremoniously signed legislation that will tee up cash payments to Lego for the factory. Identical bills, Senate Bill 1134 and House Bill 2238, create the so-called Precision Plastic Manufacturing Grant Fund, which would award up to $56 million in grant funding between July 2027 and July 2035 if the company meets factory investment and hiring goals.
Lego announced the project in June.
It would have been helpful if this article had given information on the types of skills Lego is looking for in potential employees or the salary scale.
This is a big win for the region, and hopefully will include a factory store and/or interactive tours for LEGO fans, which could drive some tourism to the area as well.
I would love to see RVA lobby Lego for a Legoland, Lego Innovation Center or Lego Museum.