115 s Lasalle New State of Illinois Building

Level-1 engineered secure, future-ready infrastructure to transform 115 S. LaSalle into the State of Illinois’ new civic headquarters.

When the State of Illinois sold the iconic James R. Thompson Center, it faced a monumental task, finding and converting a new home for several constitutional offices and state agencies. The purchase of 115 S. LaSalle, formerly the executive headquarters of BMO Harris Bank offered an opportunity to reimagine the role of government infrastructure in the 21st century. But transforming a private-sector tower into a secure, technologically advanced public-sector facility required more than retrofitting. It demanded a ground-up reinvention of telecommunications, security, and network systems infrastructure that could meet the evolving needs of state operations for decades to come. 

Level-1 Global Solutions was selected by the building’s developer to lead the technology transformation. Our scope included structured cabling, fiber, voice, data, video, wireless, Distributed Antenna System (DAS), and physical security infrastructure designed and deployed to serve as a cohesive digital environment for the new State Office Building. From detangling legacy telecom risers shared with adjacent buildings to integrating mission-critical radio systems for the Illinois State Police, our work ensured operational autonomy, connectivity, and resilience from the moment the new Jesse White State of Illinois Building became operational.  

One of our earliest challenges was fully decoupling 115 S. LaSalle’s telecom and network systems, originally part of the BMO Harris headquarters complex, from those of the adjacent original bank building and its Clark Street expansion. Level-1 designed independent risers, fiber backbones, and distribution rooms to meet public-sector cybersecurity standards and future-proof the facility’s infrastructure. Simultaneously, we integrated security systems throughout the building, including credentialed access, surveillance, and centralized monitoring, all designed to meet PSIM, NFPA, and CPTED standards without disrupting the building’s architectural flow. 

Connectivity was another priority. Level-1 designed and deployed a high-performance wireless network using RF heat mapping and predictive modeling to ensure consistent coverage throughout the 35-story building. A carrier-neutral DAS was implemented to bolster cellular and emergency communications, while structured cabling and fiber systems were installed to support high-capacity data traffic and smart-building integration in line with BICSI, WiredScore, and SmartScore standards. 

Our work also supported the relocation of the Illinois State Police’s downtown operations, designing and implementing a new radio communications hub tailored to the building’s infrastructure. This system enables continuous emergency communications, extending public safety capabilities across Chicago’s government corridor. 

What We Delivered 

• Independent telecommunications risers and fiber backbone infrastructure designed to ensure full operational separation from adjacent buildings
• Reconfiguration of network distribution rooms and redundant pathways to support public-sector resiliency and cybersecurity
• High-capacity wireless infrastructure with predictive RF modeling to ensure reliable connectivity from sublevels to the top floor
• Carrier-neutral Distributed Antenna System (DAS) to enhance public safety radio and cellular coverage in accordance with WiredScore standards
• Physical security systems including access control, video surveillance, and credentialed entry, aligned with PSIM, NFPA, and CPTED standards
• Integrated technology design for the Illinois State Police, including radio infrastructure and emergency communications hub
• Structured cabling and fiber installations across all floors to support data-intensive agency operations and long-term adaptability
• Compliance with SmartScore and BICSI standards to future-proof systems for evolving public service and smart building demands

Through complex building infrastructure separation for high-performance network deployment, Level-1 Global Solutions helped transform 115 S. LaSalle into a next-generation civic headquarters for the State of Illinois. As a prime example of adaptive reuse, the building now functions not only as a center of government operations but also as a showcase for secure, scalable, and smart public infrastructure reinforcing the State’s commitment to modern governance, citizen access, and technological excellence in the heart of Chicago’s Loop.