Client

Dominion Energy

Location

Dinwiddie, VA

Services

Architecture, Engineering, Interior Design

The introduction of a new high-voltage lab (HVL) and a separate technical lab at Dominion Energy’s Locks Campus in Dinwiddie, Virginia, marks the unique integration of a one-of-a-kind high-voltage testing laboratory alongside a specialized technical lab. Gresham Smith provided comprehensive architecture, engineering (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing), and interior design services for the project, delivering a design solution that allowed Dominion Energy to establish a technology-centered facility while supporting its ongoing efforts to expand its presence in the Dinwiddie region of Virginia.

19k
square-foot high-voltage lab
82k
square-foot technical lab
140
foot cube faraday cage

High-Voltage Innovation

Unique in both its design and function, the 19,000-square-foot HVL, one of the largest in the country, is a 140-foot cube Faraday cage, facilitating the safe testing and development of new equipment in an energized environment.

Dynamic Lab & Workspace

The 82,000-square-foot technical lab not only serves as a traditional office space featuring open workstations, conference rooms, and meeting rooms of various sizes, but also hosts training facilities and forensic areas as well as replacement labs—critical for testing the health and diagnostics of field equipment.

Strengthening Grid Resilience On-Site

At its core, the project represents the company’s commitment to improving its assets to secure a resilient public electrical grid. This is evidenced by the lab’s advanced capabilities for equipment testing, electronics diagnosis, and equipment failure analysis—all previously outsourced due to outdated facilities.

A Sustainable Showpiece

From day one, the project team aimed to design the technical lab so it aligned closely with the organization’s sustainability goals. Through meticulous coordination with the client, the team successfully met these requirements, delivering a technical lab (currently pursuing LEED-silver certification) that serves as a showpiece while reflecting the company’s dedication to environmental stewardship.