Peoples Gas & Light Logistics Support Facility

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 provided architect of record and civil, structural and process engineering services for PGL's Logistics Support Facility (LSF), located at 4341 West 35th Place.

This one-story, 97,712-square-foot building houses PGL’s personnel and assets that are engaged in operating the utility company and maintaining its infrastructure systems. The facility serves as a central warehouse, meter shop, tool room and storage, facilities storage as well as the ancillary support needs including office space and locker rooms. The warehouse receives and distributes pipe, valves and fittings and supplies that Peoples Gas utilizes to install, replace and maintain its mains and services supplying the City of Chicago. The meter shop receives and tests all new and removed meters. Employees of the meter shop, warehouse and tool repair, transport meters, fittings and supplies, and tools, respectively, to and from Peoples Gas’ five shops and sub-shop locations.

The 9.96-acre site provides secured parking for up to 60 employee and contractor vehicles, up to 40 company vehicles and about 220,000 square feet of open yard area, pipe bundles and other material storage space. Additionally, the project work includes pre-engineered storage structures and covered parking garage for emergency vehicles on site.

The project meets the City of Chicago Sustainable Development Policy for Planned Development. Some of the sustainable strategies that were implemented in this project include: storm water detention system, green roof, working landscapes, indoor water use reduction, and EV charging stations.

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