Chicago Department of Aviation Headquarters

Level-1 delivered telecom, electrical, and security infrastructure for the Chicago Department of Aviation HQ, repurposing a military site into a modern aviation command center.

As the steward of two of the world’s busiest transportation hubs, O’Hare and Midway International Airports, the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) oversees operations that generate more than $45 billion in annual economic activity and support over 540,000 regional jobs. In 2007, CDA launched an initiative to establish a centralized, secure, and modern headquarters by repurposing a decommissioned U.S. Air Force Air Reserve Station known as Building 4 on O’Hare’s grounds. Once scheduled for demolition, this facility was transformed into the new nerve center for aviation administration in Chicago, an adaptive reuse project long before ‘adaptive reuse’ became fashionable. 

Level-1 Global Solutions was selected as the lead technology consultant to Muller + Muller, the project’s architectural firm, and the Department of Aviation. John Roberson, then Aviation Commissioner, played an instrumental role in appointing Level-1 for this work; following his term the role passed to Rosie Andrade. Our mission was to assess the building’s existing infrastructure, define future-state network requirements, and design a secure telecommunications and electrical systems strategy aligned with modern airport administration standards and threat readiness protocols. 

We began by conducting a comprehensive site audit of Building 4’s structural and MEP systems, identifying the conditions and constraints that would shape the design. Our team then developed detailed plans for the facility’s telecom infrastructure, network closets, electrical circuits, and security countermeasures including systems capable of withstanding potential breaches related to terrorist activity. The design also accommodated the renovation of existing shell space to preserve architectural character and reduce waste, incorporating reuse of core structure and materials wherever possible. 

Today, the redeveloped headquarters not only houses CDA’s core operations but also supports the O’Hare Modernization Program, a multi-billion-dollar effort to reconfigure runways, terminals, and roadways for 21st-century travel. 

What We Delivered 

• Telecommunications infrastructure design for voice, data, and secure administrative communications 
• Comprehensive infrastructure audit of existing MEP and structural systems within Building 4 
• Design of new communications closets with secure locations and support for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing services 
• Electrical systems planning tailored to modern network demands and resilience requirements 
• Security-oriented countermeasure planning addressing physical infrastructure vulnerabilities 
• Procurement support and contractor proposal review to ensure alignment with technical scope 
• Technology infrastructure to support the O’Hare Modernization Program’s strategic goals 

From a decommissioned military facility to a future-focused civic asset, this project exemplifies how strategic reuse and integrated infrastructure design can unlock value for citywide operations. Level-1 is proud to have participated in the transformation of the Department of Aviation’s Building 4 into a secure, high-performance headquarters supporting the mission of the CDA and the future of air travel in Chicago.