• Posted: October 20, 2026

 

When Chicago’s first responders face an emergency, their training can make the difference between life and death. Preparing them for those critical moments requires specialized facilities equipped with advanced technology, reliable electrical infrastructure, and realistic training environments.

In the latest episode of The Power of Better, Powering Chicago takes viewers inside the Chicago Joint Public Safety Training Campus to highlight how union electrical contractors Candor Electric, Inc. and Taylor Electric Company helped bring a new state-of-the-art Emergency Medical Services (EMS) building to life.

Located on Chicago’s West Side, the facility is part of a larger investment in public safety infrastructure designed to strengthen emergency response training while creating opportunities for the surrounding community.

A Major Investment in Chicago’s Public Safety Infrastructure

Spanning more than 30 acres, the Chicago Joint Public Safety Training Campus represents an investment of more than $200 million in the city’s West Side.

The campus provides Chicago’s first responders with dedicated facilities to develop and strengthen the skills required to respond to emergencies. Phase three of construction expands those capabilities with a new EMS building designed to support hands-on medical training, realistic emergency simulations, and communications readiness.

The new facility incorporates advanced mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems to support specialized training programs, including a simulation lab where emergency personnel can practice responding to real-life scenarios in a controlled environment.

“The building’s going to provide our first responders with a state-of-the-art building, state-of-the-art program, state-of-the-art mechanical, electrical, and plumbing equipment, including a sim lab that allows them to train in real-life situations to serve our communities,” said Ray Giderof, executive director at the Public Building Commission of Chicago.

For a facility with these requirements, electrical infrastructure plays a critical role in supporting both everyday building operations and the specialized technology used to prepare first responders for emergencies.

Candor Electric, Inc. Brings Specialized Electrical Expertise to the Project

General contractor Path Construction selected Powering Chicago signatory contractor Candor Electric, Inc. to complete the electrical work for the new EMS building.

Family-owned for more than 60 years, Candor Electric, Inc. brought extensive experience in electrical construction and a strong understanding of the Public Building Commission of Chicago’s requirements, having worked with the organization on previous projects.

“They’re tough and they demand a high level of detail and precision in getting the projects done,” said Vince Di Fiore, president at Candor Electric, Inc.

The project’s electrical scope required expertise across several interconnected building systems, including:

• Lighting and controls: Electrical systems supporting lighting throughout the facility.
• Power and distribution: Infrastructure supporting mechanical equipment and other essential building operations.
• Fire alarm and life safety systems: Fire alarm installation and electrical requirements for the building’s elevator and recall system.
• Security and communications: Electrical work supporting the facility’s security and communications infrastructure.
• Advanced audiovisual systems: Technology infrastructure supporting immersive classroom instruction and specialized training environments.

Marty Rogers, project executive at Candor Electric, explained that the team was responsible for coordinating these systems to meet the facility’s operational and training requirements.

“We were responsible for the fire alarm system in here,” said Rogers. “They have a unique infrastructure of technology in here so that they can have full immersion classroom studies.”

The advanced audiovisual infrastructure was particularly important because it helps create immersive classroom environments where first responders can develop skills before applying them in emergency situations.

For municipalities, facility managers and developers overseeing complex construction projects, the work demonstrates the importance of selecting qualified electrical contractors with experience integrating multiple building systems.

Two Powering Chicago Signatory Contractors Work Together

With an extensive electrical scope to complete, Candor Electric, Inc. enlisted fellow Powering Chicago electrical contractor Taylor Electric Company to assist with site work.

Although the two companies compete for projects, they share a longstanding professional relationship and a history of working together.

“Candor Electric, Inc. and Taylor Electric Company, we’ve been working together for quite some time,” said Kendra Dinkins, president and CEO at Taylor Electric Company. “So this has been a great opportunity to get another project under our belts together.”

Di Fiore also recognized the value of the relationship, describing Taylor Electric Company as a trusted electrical contractor and an excellent partner.

Their collaboration highlights the strength of Chicago’s union electrical industry, where experienced contractors can work together to meet the demands of complex public infrastructure projects.

By bringing together qualified contractors and a highly trained electrical workforce, projects like the EMS building benefit from the technical expertise and coordination required to complete specialized electrical installations.

Creating Career Opportunities and Strengthening Chicago Communities

The Chicago Joint Public Safety Training Campus was also designed to create opportunities for residents of the surrounding community.

Throughout construction, the Public Building Commission of Chicago and its contractors emphasized the importance of involving qualified IBEW Local 134 electricians from the community in bringing the facility to life.

For the electricians working on the project, that connection made the work especially meaningful.

“Anything I can do to help out my community,” said Roberto Chacon, electrician at Candor Electric, Inc.

Chacon expressed pride in contributing to a facility that will support Chicago’s firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical personnel.

Juan Valencia, a journeyman electrician at Candor Electric, Inc. shared a similar connection to the project, explaining that he has friends working as firefighters and police officers who will benefit from the campus.

Beyond providing employment opportunities, the project reflects a broader effort to strengthen relationships between Chicago residents and the public safety professionals who serve their neighborhoods.

“How do we provide residents with an opportunity to work on the project so that the trades working on the project became a reflection of the community itself?” said Ray Giderof, executive director at the Public Building Commission of Chicago.

By investing in local workers and creating opportunities for qualified union electricians, the project demonstrates how public infrastructure improvements can deliver benefits beyond the completed building.

Building Better Infrastructure for Chicago’s Future

The new EMS building at the Chicago Joint Public Safety Training Campus demonstrates the important role Chicago’s union electrical industry plays in developing essential public infrastructure.

Through their work on the facility, Candor Electric, Inc., Taylor Electric Company, and skilled IBEW Local 134 electricians helped create an advanced training environment that will support Chicago’s first responders while contributing to economic investment and career opportunities on the city’s West Side.

The project also reflects Powering Chicago’s commitment to better construction, better careers, and better communities through its labor-management partnership between IBEW Local 134 and the Electrical Contractors Association of Chicago and Cook County.

Watch the latest episode of The Power of Better to go behind the scenes at the Chicago Joint Public Safety Training Campus and hear directly from the contractors, electricians, and project leaders who helped bring this important facility to life.

Planning a public infrastructure or commercial construction project? Explore Powering Chicago’s Find a Contractor Tool to connect with qualified electrical contractors with the experience and expertise your project requires.