What Design Electric, Inc. does

Design Electric, Inc. is a privately held, 100% employee-owned commercial and industrial electrical contractor headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia, founded in 1982 by Kenneth O. Smith and incorporated in January 1983. The company delivers full-scope electrical construction, renovation, and service work through five lines: commercial construction and renovation ($500K to $25M projects, largest single project $42M), industrial service (equipment integration, motor controls, fiber optics), commercial service (testing, generator and EV charging installation), Trimble Service (precision layout and 3D point cloud scanning at $175/hour), and a wholly-owned Design Telecommunications subsidiary formed in 1996 for wireless infrastructure. Underlying technology includes BIM/VDC on the Autodesk stack, Trimble Robotic Total Stations, 3D point cloud scanning, and an in-house prefabrication department supported by company-owned 20,000 sq ft (Charlottesville) and 14,000 sq ft (Harrisonburg) conditioned staging facilities. Primary customer segments are healthcare and higher education (UVA Health, Sentara Martha Jefferson, University of Virginia, James Madison University, Longwood University, Augusta Health), with a long tail of industrial accounts (Danone, McKee Foods, Mann+Hummel, Pepsi-Cola Bottling) and preferred-subcontractor relationships with national general contractors including Skanska, Barton Malow, Whiting-Turner, Gilbane, Mortenson, and DPR. Geographic reach covers Central and Western Virginia out of Charlottesville and Harrisonburg offices, with multi-state contractor licensing extending into North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Baltimore; bonding capacity is approximately $35M annually and headcount ranges 150 to 250 employees.

Revenue is generated primarily through fixed-price subcontracts with general contractors and direct project-owner relationships, supplemented by usage-based Trimble layout/scanning billings and time-and-materials telecom work. The go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, pursuing projects through competitive bid, design-assist involvement, and preconstruction services. Leadership combines founder-Chairman Kenneth O. Smith, second-generation President Greg Smith, VP David Kirby, VP of Finance/Treasurer Tori Terrell, HR Manager Cassy Roop, Safety Director Christopher Scott, and Design Telecommunications VP John Coffindaffer, with a stated strategic target of reaching 250 employees by the firm's 50th anniversary in 2033.

Name

Design Electric, Inc.

Legal name

Design Electric, Inc.

Website

https://designelectricinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Design Electric, Inc. is a 100% employee-owned commercial and industrial electrical contractor founded in 1982 in Charlottesville, VA, serving healthcare, higher education, commercial, and industrial clients across Virginia with BIM/VDC, prefabrication, and Trimble precision layout services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Electrical Contracting

NAICS

Other Specialized Design Services (54149)

SIC

Electrical Work (1731)

akta.pro primary industry

Electrical Contracting & Wiring (IMAFALAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Design-Build / EPC General Contracting (IMAFAAAD)

Keywords

• Electrical construction services
• Commercial electrical contracting
• Industrial electrical services
• BIM and VDC coordination
• Telecommunications infrastructure

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlottesville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Electrical Construction Services: Project-based revenue from electrical construction and renovation services for commercial, industrial, and healthcare clients. Revenue is generated through fixed-price contracts with general contractors and project owners. Project amounts typically range from $500,000 to $25 million.
2. Trimble Technology Services: Hourly-billed precision layout and scanning services using Trimble technology. Includes RTS layout services and point cloud scanning for BIM documentation.
3. Telecommunications Services: Wireless telecommunications equipment installation including co-location, raw land, rooftop, DAS installations, tower services, and radio equipment integrations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Design Electric, Inc. is a commercial and industrial electrical contractor delivering full-scope electrical construction, renovation, and service work for healthcare, higher education, commercial, and industrial clients in Virginia. The company offers design-assist and preconstruction services, in-house prefabrication, BIM/VDC coordination, and Trimble precision layout and point cloud scanning, executing fixed-price subcontracts typically ranging from $500,000 to $25 million.

Product overview

Design Electric, Inc. is a commercial electrical contractor offering a portfolio of electrical services rather than a single product. The core offerings include Commercial Construction and Renovation (new construction and renovation from $500K to $25M), Industrial Service (equipment, motor controls, high voltage), Commercial Service (general service, testing, EV charging), and a specialized Trimble Service division providing precision layout using Trimble RTS and 3D point cloud scanning technology for BIM integration. A separate Telecommunications division handles wireless infrastructure. The company operates primarily in healthcare, higher education, commercial, and industrial markets across Virginia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Design Telecommunications: Telecommunications division providing construction, tower services, radio equipment installations, DAS installations, and testing services including PIM fiber optic, sweep testing, and ground resistance testing. Formed in 1996.

Products and services

• Commercial Construction and Renovation Full-service electrical construction for commercial projects including new construction and renovation, with project sizes ranging from $500,000 to $25 million, serving healthcare, higher education, historical renovation, hospitality, and industrial markets.
• Industrial Service Comprehensive industrial electrical services including equipment and production line work, assembly line re-wiring, clean sterile rooms, switchgear, industrial motor controls, high/medium voltage work, fiber optic cabling systems, and shutdown services for manufacturing clients.
• Commercial Service Reliable commercial electrical services including general service work, service upgrades, bucket truck services, testing and grounding, generator installation, infrared testing, data logging for amperage/voltage monitoring, and EV charging station installation.
• Trimble Service Precision technology service using Trimble RTS (Robotic Total Station) for high-precision layout and 3D laser point cloud scanning for accurate site documentation, enabling BIM/CAD integration and improved project coordination. Priced at $175 per hour and offered to general contractors and MEP contractors in Charlottesville and surrounding areas.
• Telecommunications Turn-key wireless telecommunications services including co-location, raw land, rooftop, and DAS installations, testing (PIM fiber optic, sweep testing, ground resistance testing), tower services (carrier upgrades, modifications, maintenance), and radio equipment installations/integrations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Mod rate: 0.86 (below industry average indicating strong safety performance)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• M.A. Mortenson CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeneral contractor partner on Martha Jefferson Hospital project ($34.5M, 514,356 SF). Design Electric served as electrical subcontractor on this flagship healthcare project.
• SkanskacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGC partner on UVA Hospital Expansion and UVA Edgar Shannon Library projects. Multiple successful project collaborations.
• Barton MalowcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGC partner on UVA Athletics projects including Football Operations Center and McCormick Road Dorms. Ongoing working relationship.
• Whiting-Turner ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGC partner on UVA ECCCC Brachytherapy project and UVA Central Utility Plant ($2.2M).
• GilbanecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGC partner on UVA School of Data Science project.
• HourigancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGC partner on UVA Alumni Hall project.
• Faulconer ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGC partner on UVA Ivy Corridor Phase 2 and UVA Athletics Complex Phase 1 projects.
• Jamerson-Lewis ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGC partner on UVA Rotunda West Courtyard and UVA Physics Building projects.
• Kjellstrom & Lee ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGC partner on UVA Hospital GUS & MRI Expansion project (Phase 3).
• DPR ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGC partner on Fontaine Energy Plant project. Design Electric delivered electrical scope for geothermally generated energy distribution facility.
• Nielsen BuilderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGC partner on UVA UH Switchgear Replacement ($3.8M) and JMU Wilson Hall projects.
• Martin & HorncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGC partner on Sentara Community Health Outreach Center project (3,300 SF).
• TrimblecoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner providing RTS (Robotic Total Station) and point cloud scanning equipment. Enables precision layout services for construction projects.
• American Subcontractors AssociationminorOthersIndustry association membership providing networking, advocacy, and professional development resources.
• CFMA (Construction Financial Management Association)minorOthersFinancial management association membership for construction industry professionals.
• U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)minorOthersMembership supports company's LEED-certified projects and sustainability initiatives.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Rosendin Electric: One of the largest privately held electrical contractors in the U.S., serving commercial, healthcare, education, and industrial markets with design-assist, BIM/VDC, and prefabrication capabilities — directly comparable operating model to Design Electric at a significantly larger national scale.
• Faith Technologies: Large national electrical and specialty systems contractor serving commercial, industrial, and healthcare markets with strong prefabrication, BIM/VDC, and design-assist capabilities — overlap with Design Electric across core service lines and end markets.
• IES Holdings: Public electrical and mechanical contractor serving commercial, industrial, and residential markets nationally — relevant benchmark for regional electrical contractors scaling across end markets and geographies.
• MYR Group: Public specialty contractor providing commercial and industrial electrical construction across the U.S., serving similar end markets including healthcare, higher education, and manufacturing — useful valuation and benchmark reference.
• M.C. Dean: Large electrical and electronic systems contractor with deep presence in healthcare, higher education, and government markets, providing design-assist, BIM, and complex phased construction similar to Design Electric's institutional portfolio.

Others

• Trimble Inc. Technology partner providing the RTS and point cloud scanning equipment Design Electric deploys; comparable as the enabler of the precision layout and BIM integration capabilities central to Design Electric's technology differentiation.

Regional players

• Hatzel & Buehler Inc. Mid-Atlantic electrical contractor serving commercial, healthcare, and industrial clients in the Mid-Atlantic region — comparable scale and regional focus to Design Electric, with overlapping customer types.
• JMEG Electrical Contractors: Regional electrical contractor serving commercial, healthcare, and institutional clients in the Mid-Atlantic/Southeast — comparable service mix and customer profile to Design Electric at similar regional scale.

Direct peers

• Power Design, Inc. National electrical contractor focused on multifamily and commercial construction with in-house prefabrication, BIM/VDC, and design-assist services — comparable service portfolio and technology-forward operating model.
• Helix Electric: Privately held electrical contractor specializing in commercial, healthcare, and higher education construction with strong design-build capabilities — closely comparable in customer mix (healthcare/university systems), delivery model, and project scale to Design Electric.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/design-electric-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Design Electric, Inc.