Chicago's first responders train for some of the most demanding and unpredictable situations imaginable. Preparing them to protect lives, respond to emergencies, and serve communities requires more than advanced training programs. It demands specialized facilities equipped with reliable electrical infrastructure, sophisticated communications technology, and realistic simulation environments that prepare emergency personnel for real-world challenges.
At the Chicago Joint Public Safety Training Campus, Candor Electric helped bring that vision to life, delivering comprehensive electrical power, technology, communications, life safety, security, and audiovisual systems for the campus's new Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Training Facility. Developed for the Public Building Commission of Chicago (PBC), with Path Construction serving as general contractor, the project represents another significant investment in the infrastructure supporting Chicago's public safety personnel and the communities they serve. For Candor Electric, a family-owned Chicago electrical contractor with more than 60 years of experience, the project also reflects the company's long-standing commitment to building better facilities, strengthening neighborhoods, and supporting the city it calls home.
Located on Chicago's West Side, the more than 30-acre Chicago Joint Public Safety Training Campus brings together training resources for the Chicago Fire Department (CFD), Chicago Police Department (CPD), and Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC). The multi-phase campus incorporates advanced instructional facilities, classrooms, computer laboratories, specialized training environments, indoor and outdoor scenario-based training areas, vehicle training facilities, and other resources designed to strengthen coordination among Chicago's public safety agencies. The newest phase expands those capabilities through a dedicated EMS Training Facility, providing specialized instructional spaces where emergency medical personnel can develop, practice, and refine critical response skills. Unlike a conventional classroom or office building, the new facility is designed around the operational demands of emergency medical training. Its specialized environments support hands-on instruction, realistic emergency simulations, instructor observation, and the communications technology required for coordinated training. These capabilities depend on a complex network of interconnected electrical and low-voltage systems working together reliably. Candor Electric was entrusted with delivering that critical infrastructure, drawing upon its extensive experience in complex commercial, institutional, and public-sector electrical construction.
Candor Electric's project scope extended well beyond conventional electrical installation. The company was responsible for a comprehensive package of electrical and technology systems supporting the building's daily operations, instructional environments, safety requirements, and specialized training functions. Working closely with the Public Building Commission, Path Construction, project engineers, and trade partners, Candor's team coordinated and installed the electrical systems required to support a sophisticated, technology-intensive training facility.
At the center of the installation is a new 2,000-amp, 480/277-volt electrical service entrance switchboard, supported by ComEd primary and secondary infrastructure. Candor Electric also installed a 500 kVA transformer stepping power down from 480 volts to 208Y/120 volts, along with electrical distribution equipment and strategically located panelboards to serve the facility's diverse power requirements. The scope included complete grounding infrastructure, receptacles, special-purpose equipment connections, and an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system to support designated electrical loads. Candor also provided the emergency power inverter to support comprehensive lighting systems and associated controls to further support the building's operational and life safety needs, and the electrical infrastructure to power the mechanical and plumbing equipment. These systems combined provide the foundation for reliable electrical service across classrooms, training areas, specialized simulation environments, and supporting building infrastructure. For a facility dedicated to preparing emergency personnel, dependable electrical performance is essential. The building's instructional technologies, communications equipment, and specialized systems must function as intended to support effective training.
One of the project's most distinctive components is the extensive audiovisual and technology infrastructure supporting realistic, scenario-based EMS instruction. The facility incorporates specialized simulation spaces designed to replicate environments that first responders regularly encounter, including commercial buildings, residential settings, medical facilities, and ambulatory-care environments. These spaces provide opportunities for emergency personnel to practice responding to complex medical situations in controlled environments that resemble real-world conditions. Candor Electric installed the supporting audiovisual infrastructure, including projection and interactive whiteboard systems, media cabinets, touch panels, speakers, amplifiers, and sophisticated control equipment. Crestron control processors, touchscreens, keypads, and video distribution technology integrate audiovisual functions with lighting and environmental controls, allowing instructional spaces to accommodate different training scenarios. These integrated systems also support instructor observation and evaluation, an important element of effective emergency medical education. The result is a flexible training environment where technology supports hands-on instruction, realistic simulations, and the development of critical emergency response skills.
Beyond power distribution and specialized training technology, Candor Electric delivered extensive low-voltage infrastructure connecting the facility's communications, security, and building technology systems. The company's scope included card access, CCTV surveillance, intercom systems, voice and data structured cabling, network equipment, television monitors, and connections supporting specialized training simulators. Integrating these systems required careful coordination among electrical, technology, architectural, and other building trades to ensure that the finished facility could support multiple operational functions. The infrastructure was also designed with flexibility for future technology upgrades, an important consideration for a facility where training methods, instructional equipment, and communications requirements may continue to evolve. By managing a broad scope of interconnected electrical and technology systems, Candor helped streamline coordination and deliver a more integrated building infrastructure solution.
This project demonstrates the value of an experienced electrical contractor capable of delivering and seamlessly integrating traditional electrical infrastructure with advanced technology systems—creating the reliable, high-performance environments essential to today's modern institutional facilities
The new EMS training facility at Chicago’s Joint Public Safety Training Campus was designed with sustainability and long-term building performance in mind. The project targets a minimum LEED Silver certification, from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). This commitment reflects an emphasis on energy efficiency and responsible resource management for this high-performing public facility that will serve Chicago’s first responders and the community for generations to come.
Constructing a highly specialized facility presents significant technical challenges. Completing that work while first responder training continues throughout an active campus adds another level of complexity. Throughout construction, Chicago Police and Fire Department training exercises continued in other areas of the campus.Candor Electric's project management and field teams had to carefully coordinate work activities, material deliveries, installation sequencing, and access requirements to maintain safe and efficient construction operations without unnecessarily disrupting ongoing training. Detailed scheduling, proactive communication, and coordination with the PBC, general contractor and other trades were essential.
Pre-Construction Communications, Building Information Modeling (BIM), regular planning meetings, and ongoing field coordination helped identify potential conflicts, establish installation sequences, and maintain progress as conditions changed. For Candor, these demands required the same disciplined approach the company brings to complex projects in occupied healthcare facilities, commercial buildings, institutional campuses, and other environments where ongoing operations must be maintained during construction.
Complex construction projects often present unforeseen field conditions that require flexibility, technical expertise, and close coordination among project partners. The EMS Training Facility was no exception, with unique structural and underground conditions requiring Candor Electric's team to adapt installation strategies and develop practical solutions to keep work progressing.
One particularly challenging aspect involved routing the building's electrical service infrastructure within the constraints of existing structural conditions. Candor's project management and field teams worked collaboratively with project engineers and construction partners to develop an alternate conduit pathway that accommodated the building's structural requirements, architectural design, and electrical service needs.
Throughout the project, Candor relied on proactive communication, detailed planning, and experienced field personnel to navigate evolving construction conditions, coordinate installation activities, and minimize disruptions to the overall construction process.
These efforts reflect the importance of having an experienced electrical contractor capable of anticipating challenges, adapting to changing field conditions, and working collaboratively across disciplines to achieve successful project outcomes. Through technical problem-solving and a shared commitment to quality, Candor Electric and its construction partners delivered the critical electrical infrastructure required to support this highly specialized public safety training facility.
A particularly distinctive architectural feature of the EMS Training Facility is its extensive use of exposed overhead building systems. Rather than concealing mechanical and electrical infrastructure behind finished ceilings, many areas intentionally leave these systems visible. This design places conduit runs, raceways, and other electrical installations in full view, making installation quality an important element of the building's finished appearance. For Candor Electric and its team of qualified IBEW Local 134 electricians, the exposed infrastructure provided an opportunity to demonstrate the craftsmanship, precision, and attention to detail that distinguish qualified electrical construction professionals. Conduit routing, equipment placement, installation alignment, and coordination with adjacent mechanical and building systems required careful planning and execution. The finished installations reflect an emphasis on safety, organization, workmanship, and the quality standards expected of a sophisticated public facility. While much of the electrical infrastructure in modern buildings remains hidden from view, this project makes the expertise behind that work visible. It also reinforces an important principle: quality electrical construction is not simply about connecting systems. It is about delivering infrastructure that performs reliably, integrates with the building, and meets the demands of its intended use.
Equally important to the quality of its craftsmanship is Candor Electric’s unwavering commitment to jobsite safety. With an industry-leading safety record and an Experience Modification Rate, Candor maintains rigorous safety standards supported by ongoing workforce training, proactive planning, and accountability at every level. That commitment was demonstrated throughout construction of the EMS Training Facility, where Candor Electric and its team completed their work with zero safety incidents on this project. This achievement reflects the professionalism of its qualified IBEW Local 134 electricians and a company-wide culture that places safety at the forefront of every project.
The significance of the Joint Public Safety Training Campus extends beyond its technical capabilities. The campus represents a major public investment on Chicago's West Side, supporting emergency preparedness, neighborhood reinvestment, community engagement, and opportunities for local businesses and workers. As a 60+ year old electrical contractor born and bred on Chicago’s south side, Candor Electric understands the importance of public infrastructure projects - and their direct impact on Chicago communities. Every project represents an opportunity to contribute to Chicago’s continued progress—strengthening neighborhoods, expanding opportunities and creating better facilities and spaces that serve residents and communities for generations to come. Its purpose is ultimately to support the men and women responsible for responding to medical emergencies, protecting lives, and serving Chicago's neighborhoods. By helping create a more advanced environment for their training, Candor Electric and its project partners have contributed to infrastructure with a lasting community benefit.
To support the project's construction goals and commitment to local business participation, Candor Electric brought together two respected Chicago-based construction partners, Taylor Electric Company and Phoenix Business Solutions, LLC. Together, these Powering Chicago electrical contractors contributed their expertise, skilled workforces, and shared commitment to quality construction, backed by a strong sense of hometown pride. Taylor Electric Company, a family-owned electrical contractor based on Chicago's South Side, is recognized as Chicago's oldest continuously operating Black-owned business and one of the oldest family-owned Black businesses in the United States. Its longstanding history reflects generations of electrical construction expertise and commitment to Chicago's development. Phoenix Business Solutions, LLC is a certified WBE/DBE electrical and low-voltage systems contractor with 26 years of experience serving Chicago's construction industry, bringing specialized technical capabilities and local market expertise to the project. With deep roots in Chicago and a history of successful project collaboration, Candor Electric and its partners share more than construction expertise. Their partnership reflects the strength of established local relationships, the value of Chicago’s qualified workforce, and a collective commitment to creating opportunities through infrastructure investment. It is a meaningful example of how Powering Chicago electrical contractors work together to help build better facilities and create lasting value for the communities they call home.
For more than six decades, Candor Electric has contributed to the construction, renovation, and modernization of buildings that support Chicago's businesses, institutions, public agencies, and communities. The Joint Public Safety Training Campus EMS Facility adds another significant project to that history. From the building's 2,000-amp electrical service and comprehensive distribution systems to its advanced audiovisual technology, security infrastructure, communications networks, and specialized training environments, Candor's work supports a facility designed to strengthen the capabilities of Chicago's emergency medical personnel. The project reflects the company's broad technical expertise, commitment to quality workmanship, and ability to manage complex electrical construction projects where reliability, coordination, and specialized technology are essential. Most importantly, it demonstrates how better construction contributes to better facilities and stronger communities.
Candor Electric is proud to help power that progress.
