In the heart of Chicago’s Near North Side, the expansion and renovation of Walter Payton College Preparatory High School stands as a testament to how thoughtful infrastructure investment can elevate educational opportunity. Delivered by the Public Building Commission of Chicago (PBC), the project blends modern design, expanded capacity, and forward-thinking learning environments - supported by the critical electrical expertise of Candor Electric.
Walter Payton College Prep is widely recognized as one of the nation’s top public high schools, serving a diverse student population drawn from across Chicago. To meet increasing demand and relieve overcrowding, the PBC led the development of a three-story, approximately 49,000-square-foot annex, coupled with targeted renovations to the existing facility.
The expansion increased enrollment capacity by roughly one-third while delivering a dynamic mix of academic and student-focused spaces, including:
Renovation work within the original building further enhanced the campus, converting existing spaces into a new biology lab and modern classrooms to support evolving curriculum needs.
Behind these highly visible architectural and programmatic improvements lies a sophisticated electrical backbone, where Candor Electric played a vital role. From the outset, the project required a coordinated approach to support both new construction and seamless integration with an active, legacy facility. The annex’s wide range of uses, from performance spaces and athletic facilities to advanced classrooms, demanded robust, flexible, and energy-conscious electrical systems.
Candor Electric delivered a comprehensive electrical package designed to support the annex’s diverse needs, while ensuring long-term reliability, maintainability, and energy efficiency.
Constructing a major school addition in a tight urban footprint presented logistical and technical challenges. The annex had to connect efficiently to the existing building while maintaining safe operations for students and staff. The design-build team successfully created a fully integrated, multi-level connection between structures, allowing seamless circulation and continuous operation. For Candor Electric, this meant careful phasing, coordination with multiple trades, and precision execution to ensure uninterrupted service and safe tie-ins to existing systems.
The project reflects the PBC’s broader mission to deliver high-performance public facilities. Designed to meet LEED for Schools standards, the annex promotes energy efficiency and long-term operational value. Beyond the school day, the facility also serves the surrounding community, with spaces such as the gymnasium and theater available for recreational and cultural use. This dual-purpose design reinforces the role of public school infrastructure as both an educational and community asset.
Recognition for its Lasting Value
The Walter Payton annex project earned the Chicago Building Congress Merit Award for New Construction under $55 million, underscoring the quality of its design, construction, and collaboration.
For Candor Electric, participation in such a high-profile, award-winning project highlights the firm’s ability to deliver complex electrical systems in demanding environments—while contributing to projects that have a meaningful, long-term impact on communities.
At its core, the Walter Payton College Prep Annex & Renovation project is about opportunity—creating space for more students to access one of Chicago’s premier public education experiences.
Through its electrical expertise, Candor Electric helped bring that vision to life—powering not just a building, but an environment where future leaders can learn, perform, and thrive.
