$85M Google HQ Renovation in Chicago Needs 6 Low Voltage Systems

Google's $85 million interior renovation of the iconic Thompson Center in Chicago's Loop requires six low voltage systems across 10 floors and 1.3 million square feet — creating an estimated $5.95 million LV opportunity for contractors in one of the most high-profile tech office buildouts in the Midwest.

Project Overview

The City of Chicago issued an $85 million building permit in December 2025 for interior renovations at 171 N La Salle Street — the address for the James R. Thompson Center, Helmut Jahn's iconic postmodern government building in the heart of the Loop. Once complete, the 1.3-million-square-foot structure will serve as Google's Chicago headquarters, housing approximately 2,000 employees across office spaces, labs, kitchens, restaurants, and conference rooms.

The Thompson Center redevelopment is a $280 million build-to-suit project led by Prime/Capri Interests, a joint venture between developers Michael Reschke and Quintin Primo III. Google intends to purchase the building upon completion, with a target move-in date in 2026–2027. While Clark Construction handles the exterior envelope — including a full facade replacement with triple-pane energy-efficient glass — the interior buildout is a separate $85M scope that demands comprehensive low voltage infrastructure.

Source: Chicago Building Permits (Permit issued December 17, 2025)

Key Players

Role	Company	Notes
Interior General Contractor	Skender	Named on the $85M interior renovation permit. Chicago-based firm specializing in Lean construction methods.
Exterior General Contractor	Clark Construction	Leading the building envelope and facade replacement work.
Architect of Record	Partners by Design (Scott R. Becker)	Listed on the interior renovation permit.
Design Architect	Jahn	Founded by Helmut Jahn, who designed the original Thompson Center in 1985.
Project Manager	Turner & Townsend	Providing project and cost management services.
Developer	Prime/Capri Interests	Joint venture (Michael Reschke + Quintin Primo III) executing the $280M redevelopment.
Tenant / Buyer	Google	Will purchase the building upon completion. 2,000 employees planned.

Low Voltage Systems Breakdown

With 10 floors of office, lab, food service, and conference space, the Thompson Center interior buildout requires six distinct low voltage systems. For a tech headquarters of this caliber, every system will be specified to enterprise-grade standards.

System	Scope	Complexity
Structured Cabling	Cat 6A/fiber backbone across 1.3M sq ft. High-density runs for open offices, labs, and conference rooms. Expect 5,000+ drops minimum for a 2,000-employee tech HQ.	High
Access Control	Multi-zone card/biometric access across 10 floors. Elevator integration, visitor management, secured lab areas, loading dock control. Google-standard security protocols.	High
CCTV / Video Surveillance	IP camera coverage for lobbies, corridors, parking, perimeter, and high-security zones. Integration with access control for event-driven recording. Analytics-capable NVR infrastructure.	High
Audio Visual	Conference rooms, all-hands spaces, digital signage, video walls. Google Meet integration across every meeting room. Expect 100+ AV-enabled spaces in a building this size.	High
Fire Alarm	Full addressable fire alarm system for 1.3M sq ft across 10 floors. Smoke detection, notification appliances, FACP, elevator recall, stairwell pressurization integration. Must meet Chicago fire code.	High
POS / Point of Sale Systems	Network infrastructure for kitchen and restaurant POS terminals. Google campuses typically feature multiple food service venues — expect cafe, restaurant, and micro-kitchen POS deployments across floors.	Medium

Estimated Low Voltage Value

Based on industry benchmarks for high-end corporate office renovations with a tech tenant:

• Total project value: $85,000,000
• LV allocation (7%): $5,950,000
• System count multiplier: 6 systems at enterprise grade
• Estimated LV contract value: $5.95 million

The 7% allocation reflects the higher-than-average LV density expected in a tech headquarters. Google offices are known for dense structured cabling, advanced AV in every conference room, and sophisticated access control. With 1.3 million square feet and 6 systems, the actual LV scope could exceed this estimate — particularly if DAS (distributed antenna system) or building automation are added during design development.

Note: This is an estimated value based on industry benchmarks, not a confirmed contract amount.

Skills and Certifications

Low voltage contractors pursuing work on this project should hold or be pursuing:

• BICSI RCDD — Registered Communications Distribution Designer, essential for the structured cabling scope across 1.3M sq ft
• BICSI Technician (INST1/INST2) — For copper and fiber installation work
• NICET Fire Alarm (Level II+) — Required for the fire alarm system design and installation in Chicago
• CTS / CTS-I (AVIXA) — Certified Technology Specialist for the extensive AV scope
• Lenel / Genetec / S2 Certification — Access control platform certifications (specific platform TBD by Google's security team)
• OSHA 30 — Standard requirement for commercial construction sites of this scale
• Chicago Low Voltage Contractor License — Required by the City of Chicago for LV work

Given the project's scale and the tenant profile, expect union labor requirements and prevailing wage provisions.

Market Signal

Google's Thompson Center renovation is more than a single project — it's a signal that Chicago's Loop is attracting major tech investment despite the national return-to-office uncertainty. Key takeaways for the LV market:

• Tech tenants drive LV density: A 2,000-employee Google office generates far more LV scope per square foot than a typical corporate tenant. Dense cabling, room-by-room AV, biometric access, and campus-grade surveillance are standard for Big Tech.
• Cascade effect: The "Google Effect" is already driving adjacent development in the Loop. As Block Club Chicago reported, experts predict the headquarters will catalyze further office renovations and conversions in the district — each one with its own LV package.
• Interior GC signals subcontract opportunity: Skender being named as the interior GC means LV subcontracting decisions are likely in progress now. Contractors should be reaching out to Skender's preconstruction team.
• Historic renovation premium: Working within a landmark building adds complexity and cost to LV installations — routing, fire-stopping, and coordination with preservation requirements all increase scope.

For LV contractors in the Chicago metro, this project should be on the radar. And it won't be the last — the Loop's revitalization is creating a pipeline of similar opportunities.

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