Public officials and representatives of AREVA cut the ceremonial ribbon on Oct 3 at Innovation Park to mark the official opening of AREVA Inc.’s North American headquarters in Charlotte, N.C, unveiling a vibrant, new corporate headquarters and customer conference center.

“Thanks to AREVA’s increasingly strong presence in North America, nuclear utilities can be confident they can meet the safety and operation challenges of a shifting energy market,” said Mike Rencheck, president and CEO of AREVA Inc. “Our new headquarters location better positions our company to serve our customers in the largest nuclear power market in the world.”

“AREVA’s decision to relocate its North American headquarters to Charlotte sends a strong signal that our state is attracting leading global energy companies to our Carolinas energy hub,” said North Carolina Secretary of Commerce Sharon Decker. “AREVA has long played an important role in job creation in our state and the official opening of its North American headquarters in Charlotte, making it the largest engineering employer in the area, is evidence that North Carolina is business friendly and welcomes high-paying jobs and economic development.”

The Charlotte Business Journal reported that Areva spent more than $3 million in upgrades in expanding its presence at the Innovation Campus to 200,000 square feet.

The company’s new headquarters location is just one example of AREVA’s commitment to helping utilities lower operating costs and improve performance with cost-effective and innovative solutions. AREVA’s unique and world-class resources in North America include the AREVA Solutions Complex in Lynchburg, Va., the Advanced Fuel Fabrication Facility in Richland, Wash., and the material fabrication capabilities of Columbiana Hi Tech, LLC, which was acquired by AREVA TN earlier this year, in Greensboro, N.C.

These facility investments demonstrate AREVA’s long-term commitment to supporting North America’s vital nuclear industry and the company’s dedication to operational excellence through safety, quality, performance and delivery of its products and services. Centralizing headquarters in Charlotte places AREVA’s leadership closer to its customer base and partners, giving the 119 nuclear power plants across North America greater access to AREVA’s worldwide expertise and solutions.

– From a news release by AREVA