Peoples Gas & Light Central Field Service Shop

The property for both the Peoples Gas & Light’s (PGL) Central Field Service Shop and Logistics Center is located in the Little Village/South Lawndale area on the south side of 35th Place, which is west of the ComEd substation and across the street from Peoples Energy Training Center.

The property was specifically chosen by PGL due to the close customer proximity as well as the beneficial operating response times to utility service requirements. PGL undertook the development in an effort to update its significantly dated service center. The new facility represents a commitment to continuing improvement in operating efficiencies, safety, customer service, and employee engagement. PGL commissioned an extensive analysis of its Chicago metropolitan operations and real estate holdings that has served as the foundation for establishing a comprehensive operational and facility development plan. The two following projects that Epstein was engaged for are a direct result of that analysis. Site selection addressed service travel distances and proximities to the customer service zone that this location will serve.

Epstein served as the architect of record and civil engineer for the PGL Central Shop Field Service Center, which is constructed at 4207 West 35th Place..

The two-story building is a field service center that houses PGL’s personnel and assets that are engaged in operating the utility company and maintaining its infrastructure systems. Employees check in at the facility to receive assignments and pick-up resources to complete assigned projects. The 75,560-square-foot building features employee training rooms, locker and fitness rooms, support offices, warehouse with loading docks, tool room and field support shops on the first floor. The second floor includes offices, a conference room and a breakout space with outdoor patios for employees. The building also serves as a fleet hub and service center with a 6 Service Bay repair garage (including lifts and lube room), a dedicated bay for vehicle wash, as well as other utility support areas.

The site includes fueling facilities, employee and company vehicles parking, including 38 service trucks, truck scale, lay down areas, which are necessary for the storage of miscellaneous equipment, large equipment and trailers, material storage structures, needed for the storage of construction materials such as sand, gravel, and cold patch material, and trash enclosures.

The project meets the City of Chicago Sustainable Development Policy for Planned Development. Some of the sustainable strategies included in the design and development of the Central shop are: storm water detention system, green roof, working landscapes, indoor water use reduction, and EV charging stations.

The building exterior walls are predominantly precast concrete insulated panels with an accent of porcelain tiles and insulated metal panels over storefront glazing. The interior walls are a combination of load bearing precast and stud wall construction. The entire building is sprinkled with a wet pipe system and has a lightning protection system.