Smart Wires Headquarters

Location

Durham, NC

Market Sectors

  • Commercial
  • Corporate Interiors
  • Industrial

Sub Sectors

  • Flex-Use
  • Headquarters
  • Infrastructure - Building/Site Utilities
  • Infrastructure - Power/Energy
  • Laboratory-Technology
  • Research & Development
  • Warehouse
  • Workplace/Office

Client

Smart Wires

Partners

  • LITTLE Diversified Architectural Consulting
  • JLL
  • Longfellow

Disrupting the grid to create a new home office in North Carolina

Smart Wires, the world’s leading grid-enhancing technology and services provider, relocated its headquarters to Research Triangle Park after 10 years in California. The move positions the company to better serve its global customer base, offers relocating employees an enhanced quality of living in a thriving local economy, and affords them access to the area’s talented technological workforce, allowing Smart Wires to create more than 250 new jobs.

46,000
Square Feet
Headquarters
Relocation
R&D
Flex-Use Facility
Extensive
Electrical Upgrades
Ground-Testing
Structure
Warehouse
Space
The new headquarters includes 20,624 square feet of office space and 20,214 square feet of R&D laboratory space.
In 2022, Smart Wires moved from Union City, California to the Research Triangle Park in North Carolina.
This flex-use research and development facility houses dense office space, a ground-testing structure, complex electrical testing labs, and high-bay warehousing space.
The existing warehouse required extensive electrical upgrades, including new electrical gear and additional rooftop units to support their research and development efforts for grid-enhancing technologies.
A new ground-up electrical ground-testing structure was constructed on-site to allow Smart Wires to measure how well an electrical system is connected to the ground and safely dissipate electrical current in case of a fault.

Future-proofing the grid with a flex-use facility

The new 46,000-square-foot facility in Durham’s Imperial Center office park features an engaging space that includes 20,624 square feet of office space with a mix of private offices and workstations to support the company’s collaborative culture and serve as a welcoming space for employees and clients. A transparent but secure area connects the office to a 20,214-square-foot research and development laboratory environment for Smart Wires to prototype new products, test existing products, and serve as a showcase for touring clients. This new office allows Smart Wires to work better on solving problems and focus on modernizing and future-proofing the grid.

Bold design mirrors Smart Wires’ vision for the future

Smart Wires made a pivotal shift in its mission to revolutionize the energy grid, and its new headquarters embodies its commitment to innovation and excellence, inspired by its tagline, “Reimagine the Grid.” The design concept, “Disrupt the Grid,” aligns with the company’s values and mission, creating an engaging and modern workspace that fosters collaboration and reflects its global impact.

Overcoming design hurdles with cutting-edge solutions

The project faced unique challenges, including designing and constructing a facility that supports cutting-edge technological developments while fostering a collaborative work environment. The design team’s solution was to create a versatile space that blends office functionality with R&D capabilities, reflecting Smart Wires’ role as a leader in grid technology. Integrating a transparent yet secure lab area allows for seamless interaction between the office and R&D spaces, facilitating innovation and enhancing operational efficiency.

Enhancing the grid and local community

Smart Wires’ new headquarters is more than just a state-of-the-art facility; it is a testament to their vision of transforming the energy grid into a digital, secure, and accessible platform. By leveraging the local talent pool and contributing to the regional economy, Smart Wires is advancing its mission and fostering growth and prosperity in the Durham community. This relocation underscores their commitment to solving global energy challenges and shaping the future of grid technology.