Value Delivered
A new revenue-producing facility for the client’s real estate portfolio, increased commercial space in a vital urban area, additional economic stimulus for the city.
Client Objectives
To construct a first-class commercial office building in the heart of Chicago using today’s most advanced sustainable energy technologies.
Scope of Services
In addition to a telecommunications backbone, the firm designed power and lighting distribution, garage lighting; fire alarm, life safety, and area rescue assistance systems; mechanical, plumbing, and other operating system power distribution; and emergency power generation. Furthermore, using its own loads and the local power company’s specifications and code, the company planned utility rooms and electrical service-provider vaults.
Solutions
Gibson Electric helped this client achieve its objectives by serving as the project’s design/build electrical contractor. Gibson installed the facility’s main power and lighting, power generation, and lobby lighting systems. In the vaults, the company provided lighting and power branch distribution, as well as fire alarms.
Overall, the company installed approximately 500,000 feet of conduit raceways for utilities, and power and lighting distribution, as well as raceways for telecommunications and security cabling. The company also furnished 850,000 feet of wire and cable, 6,200 feet of linear lighting, 2,300 fixtures; 288 pieces of power, lighting and distribution equipment; and 2,100 switches and receptacles.
Client Background
111 South Wacker is the world’s first building to attain LEED-CS Green Building Rating System® certification — Gold Level. The 51-story, 1.5-million-square-foot glass office tower incorporated a number of sustainable design initiatives.
Since it stands on the site of the former U.S. Gypsum Building -- one of the tallest buildings ever demolished in Chicago -- one such initiative involved reuse of existing caissons and foundations.
In addition, the existing foundation walls were bermed with a high-density CA 6 and rubble debris mix. A soldier pile and lagging system was then installed around the foundation mat, stabilizing the earth and reducing the cost of a retention system.
Additional sustainable initiatives included the use of high-performance glazing, a high-insulating building envelope, high-efficiency chillers; digitally controlled heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and lighting systems; recycled materials, and a "green" roof.