The LEGO Group has named Vice President, Workplace Solutions & Operations Preben Elnef as permanent program leader and appointed Gray|Hourigan as general contractor for its manufacturing site in Chesterfield, Virginia.
Elnef will assume the role in April and his responsibilities will include overseeing the factory’s construction and opening. Elnef joined The LEGO Group in 2013 as Vice President, Corporate Facility. He previously spent three years with LEGO Vietnam, where he established an operating unit and oversaw the construction of a LEGO factory in the Binh Duong province, scheduled to begin production in 2025.
“This is an important program in support of our mission to inspire and develop kids across the Americas region for generations to come,” says Elnef. “It is also a step toward operating more sustainably, as we’re building a site designed to minimize energy use. I look forward to continuing our important partnerships in the local community to bring play to more children in Virginia.”
Preben Elnef reviews the model (made of LEGO bricks) for the manufacturing campus with the Gray|Hourigan team. | Source: The LEGO Group
Preben Elnef, Program Leader and Vice President, Workplace Solutions & Operations | Source: The LEGO Group
Leaders from Gray|Hourigan at The LEGO Group’s Virginia site | Source: The LEGO Group
Gray|Hourigan will manage deep foundation and site preparation to help move The LEGO Group toward its production goals. The contractor is a joint venture between industry leader Gray and Richmond-based construction firm Hourigan. It aims to lead in sustainable industrial facility design.
The project costs more than $1 billion and construction of the factory buildings is expected to begin later this year. Full production is projected to begin in 2027. LEGO aims to create more than 1,760 jobs during the next 10 years.
“We are pleased with the progress we’re making with our investment in Virginia and grateful for the continued support from the local community,” says The LEGO Group’s COO Carsten Rasmussen. “We are excited Preben has agreed to become the program leader; the team will benefit from his recent experience establishing our presence in Vietnam and building our second new factory. We are looking forward to partnering with Gray|Hourigan to commence construction work and retain the good momentum we’re seeing across the site.”
