DOE-Backed Jefferson Lab Renovation to Transform Facility into Science and Education Hub

A U.S. Department of Energy–backed renovation at Jefferson Lab will transform a facility previously owned by the City of Newport News—now transferred to Jefferson Lab—into a next-generation science and education hub, further positioning the Virginia Peninsula as a center for research, innovation, and talent development.

The project will modernize key facilities, expand space for scientific collaboration, and strengthen connections between Jefferson Lab, higher education, and industry. In addition to advancing world-class nuclear physics research, this renovation will support STEM education, workforce pipelines, and high-skilled job growth critical to the region’s innovation economy.

“This investment reinforces what we have been saying for a while now; the Virginia Peninsula has the assets, talent, and institutions to be recognized nationally as an innovation ecosystem,” said Bob McKenna, President and CEO of the Virginia Peninsula Chamber. “Jefferson Lab is one of the pillars of that ecosystem, and this project accelerates our ability to translate research excellence into economic growth and opportunity.”