In a city like Chicago, electrification rarely happens in isolation. Large retrofit projects are almost always delivered in occupied buildings, alongside active operations, and under pressure to modernize multiple systems at once. The projects that succeed understand this from the start. Electrification works best when treated as core infrastructure—the backbone that supports building automation, electric vehicle (EV) readiness, and advanced security—rather than as a standalone upgrade.
That approach matters because buildings are where energy decisions have the greatest impact. In Chicago, buildings account for roughly 70% of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions, according to the City of Chicago’s energy benchmarking report. This local challenge reflects a national trend: according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), buildings consume about 75% of the electricity used in the United States.
Across large-scale retrofits, the most effective electrification projects share a common approach. Experienced electrical contractors plan upgrades to enable simultaneous operation of several systems, reducing future disruption and avoiding costly rework. When electrification is siloed, capacity limitations surface later, often when automation, EV charging, or security systems are added without the electrical infrastructure to support them.
Capacity Planning Sets the Ceiling for Success
In large retrofit projects, electrical capacity is rarely a minor detail. It is often the defining constraint. Existing service size, switchgear condition, feeder capacity, panel space, and emergency power all shape what is possible. Projects that move forward without addressing these fundamentals early tend to encounter delays, redesigns, or compromises in system performance.
In some cases, insufficient electrical capacity can require service upgrades, new switchgear, or coordination with the local utility—changes that affect project timelines, budgets, and construction sequencing.
Successful projects begin with a clear assessment of existing electrical infrastructure and a realistic view of future demand. That includes planning for automation expansion, EV charging growth, and increasingly sophisticated security systems.
Designing only to current loads may meet minimum requirements, but it leaves little room for the technologies buildings will rely on over the next decade.
Building Automation Depends on Electrical Coordination
Modern building automation systems place new demands on electrical infrastructure, especially in older buildings. Distributed controllers, networked sensors, and integrated monitoring systems require reliable, well-planned power. When electrical upgrades and controls design are misaligned, automation systems struggle to perform as intended.
This coordination gap is well documented. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), now known as the National Laboratory of the Rockies, noted that successful retrofits depend on aligning electrical upgrades with controls and commissioning strategies, particularly when integrating advanced automation systems into existing buildings.
Projects that deliver results treat automation as a coordinated effort. Electrical contractors and controls integrators work together early to confirm power requirements, circuiting strategies, and commissioning responsibilities. The result is better system visibility, smoother startup, and long-term operational reliability.
EV Infrastructure Must Be Designed to Scale
EV charging is one of the fastest-growing sources of new electrical load in retrofit projects. Nationally, the scale of that growth is significant. An analysis from the DOE and NREL estimated that the country could require around 28 million EV charging ports by 2030 to support projected EV adoption, many of which will be located in workplaces, commercial buildings, and parking facilities.
In Chicago, EV infrastructure across facilities, from commercial buildings to parking structures and campuses, works best when it is designed for growth rather than a single installation phase. Projects that succeed plan distribution systems that can support additional chargers over time, coordinate EV loads with overall building demand, and integrate charging infrastructure with building automation systems.
Treating EV charging infrastructure as a long-term electrical investment—rather than an amenity—allows building owners to adapt as vehicle adoption grows.
Advanced Security Relies on a Reliable Electrical Infrastructure
Security systems have evolved into fully integrated, electrified networks. Access control, video monitoring, communications, and life safety systems all depend on consistent power, redundancy, and coordination with building automation.
Federal facility guidance increasingly emphasizes the importance of reliable electrical distribution and backup power for security and life safety systems in modern buildings, particularly in high-occupancy and public-facing facilities.
Electrical upgrades play a critical role in improving the performance of security systems. Clear separation of critical and noncritical loads, properly designed emergency and standby power, and reliable distribution all contribute to system uptime and resilience.
Phasing and Continuity Define Large Retrofit Delivery
Most large electrification retrofits take place in occupied buildings. Hospitals, public facilities, commercial properties, and mission-critical spaces cannot simply shut down for construction. In these environments, phasing and continuity are design requirements.
Research from the DOE’s Better Buildings Initiative highlights that successful retrofit projects prioritize operational continuity, using phased electrical upgrades and detailed coordination with building operations teams to minimize disruption.
A Practical Path to Replication
The lessons from large-scale retrofits are consistent and repeatable. Building owners and developers looking to replicate successful electrification projects should start with a few fundamentals:
- Conduct an early electrical capacity and distribution assessment.
- Plan electrification alongside automation, EV charging, and security upgrades.
- Design for future load growth, not minimum compliance.
- Coordinate phasing around occupancy and operations.
- Require commissioning and clear documentation across all systems.
- Work with electrical contractors experienced in complex retrofit environments.
Electrification projects succeed when they are grounded in practical planning, skilled execution, and an understanding of how buildings actually operate. Large-scale retrofits demand coordination across systems, trades, and stakeholders. That includes working with qualified electrical contractors who are experienced in delivering large-scale projects. When electrical upgrades are designed to support automation, mobility, and security together, they create infrastructure that performs today and remains adaptable for what comes next.
Elbert Walters III is the executive director of Powering Chicago, the labor management partnership between the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 134 and the Electrical Contractors’ Association of Chicago and Cook County (ECA).