A multi-year, multi-building relationship between the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 9 (IBEW 9) and Wight & Company began modestly by designing a large-scale storage facility for the union’s new 100-acre training center in University Park, IL. Local 9 leadership subsequently partnered with Wight to master plan, design, and build four other unique buildings, each aspiring to a higher level of design expression and functional capability than previously achieved. The union increasingly came to appreciate how design excellence created value, enhanced their core training mission, and amplified their brand identity.
100% savings returned After designing and managing construction of four buildings in seven years, Wight returned to Local 9 the combined value of $2 million in unexpended contingency fees and added scope to further enhance design excellence.
A long-term guarantee Wight committed to cost certainty with a separate guaranteed maximum price for each phase of this flexible multi-year building program comprised of a highly diversified campus for the fully immersive training of outdoor electrical technicians in nearly two dozen specialties.
Award-winning showcase building The campus’s architecturally iconic classroom training building was honored with the 2018 Chicago Building Congress Award of Merit, recognizing the Local 9 and Wight collaboration for design, construction quality, community impact, and construction safety.
Photo Credit: James Steinkamp, James Steinkamp Photography
