A. O. Smith Corporation, a leader in water heating and water treatment, has announced that its new Product Development Center in Lebanon, Tennessee, will open its doors Aug. 26 with an invitation-only sneak preview event for federal and local elected officials, chamber of commerce delegates, project partners, university representatives and select employees. Attendees will join A. O. Smith and Lochinvar teams for a project introduction and an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the facility’s environmental chambers, product engineering development lab, electronics lab, and other new spaces.

The estimated $30-million-project combines a mix of new construction and existing facility renovation to create an environment of innovation and collaboration. The new center will bring together the company’s North America Water Heating commercial engineering and platform electronics functions with Lochinvar engineering and product management to support future commercial product production, including heat pump water heaters.

“We’re not only committing to conceptual changes but also providing our people with the tools they need to achieve meaningful progress,” said Chairman and CEO Kevin Wheeler. “This center is designed to enhance knowledge-sharing across the organization and foster new ideas in a space conducive to collaboration. We’re confident this new facility will play a critical role in advancing product innovation and future sustainability efforts.”

The program will feature Chief Technology Officer Bob Heideman, North America Water Heating (NAWH) President and General Manager Steve O’Brien, Senior Vice President Human Resources and Public Affairs Curt Selby and Lochinvar President Darrell Schuh, along with the NAWH and Lochinvar vice presidents of engineering and product management and the project’s head architect. After the tours, guests are invited to stay for a continental breakfast.

People may be wondering what the reasons are behind the expansion of the A. O. Smith presence in Wilson County. A recent Workforce Essentials report on Wilson County shows the population has grown by 16.3% since 2018 and jobs increased by 35.8%. This change far outpaced the national growth rate of 4.3% during that time. In addition, almost 25% of Wilson County residents possess a bachelor’s degree, which is 3.7% above the national average, and growth remains on the horizon as the population is expected to increase by 15% in the next five years. Proximity to state universities was also a key factor.

“We must recruit and retain the brightest minds in our business, grow our talent force and create new opportunities for our employees to further enhance their skills,” Selby said. “We’re excited about our future in this community and look forward to creating an environment where talent and innovation can thrive and flourish.” 

The Product Development Center is expected to open in Spring 2025. When fully operational, the facility will house more than 140 new and existing employees with room for future growth.