Grigg Hall honors former Duke Energy leader

Dedicated on Sept. 8, 2006, William H. Grigg Hall is home to a number of Charlotte Research Institute offices and facilities, including the Center for Optoelectronics and Optical Communications.

Named for the chair emeritus of Duke Energy, Grigg Hall is a 96,820-square-foot, state-of-the-art academic and research facility. In 2002, the Duke Energy Foundation announced a $10 million gift to the University’s capital campaign in support of Charlotte Research Institute programs and initiatives. Construction of Grigg Hall began in 2003 with funding from proceeds from the state’s $3.1 billion bond referendum approved by North Carolina voters in 2000.

Grigg , who grew up in Albemarle, completed a bachelor’s degree from Duke University in 1954. After serving two years in the U.S. Marine Corps, he earned a law degree with distinction from Duke in 1958. After practicing law in Charlotte for five years, Grigg joined Duke Power in 1963 as assistant general counsel. He was promoted to vice president of finance in 1970 and vice president and general counsel in 1971. Elected to Duke Power’s board of directors in 1972, Grigg eventually was named vice chair in 1991 and chair and chief executive officer in 1994. He retired in 1997.

During Grigg’s tenure with Duke Power, he guided the corporation through some of the most challenging times in the electric utility industry. He helped expand and diversify the company’s power plants and led the company’s response to competition, including the merger with PanEnergy in 1997 to create Duke Energy.

Committed to civic leadership and quality education, Grigg has served countless community groups, including the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority, Foundation for the Carolinas and the Lynwood Foundation. In honor of his contributions to Charlotte and the greater community, UNC Charlotte awarded Grigg an honorary doctorate of public service in December 1997.

The architectural firm of Perkins-Will, which has offices nationwide, designed Grigg Hall. Constructed for roughly $24 million, Grigg Hall features a 3,000-square-foot clean room, a controlled environmental space used for research and manufacturing. Clean, contamination-free rooms are used in variety of research settings – electronics and optics, as well as pharmaceuticals and DVD manufacturing.

Atkins Library Special Collections contributed to this article.