Chicago State University Childcare Center IT and AV Systems Integration

Level-1 designed IT and AV systems for CSU’s new childcare center, enabling digital learning, communication, and early education support.

Chicago State University (CSU), one of Illinois’ two minority-serving institutions, serves a diverse student body on Chicago’s South Side with a mission rooted in access, equity, and community engagement. To expand its impact on student-parent success and early childhood development, CSU launched a significant capital investment to construct a new childcare and learning center as part of the federally supported Head Start program. The initiative included the renovation of approximately 5,000 square feet of the university’s Education Building and the construction of a 25,000-square-foot addition featuring classrooms, a multipurpose cafeteria/auditorium, offices, administrative areas, and an outdoor playground. 

Designed to help student-parents pursue academic achievement while providing their children with a safe and enriching learning environment, the New Learning Center represents a cornerstone in CSU’s broader commitment to wraparound support services. Funded through the City of Chicago’s Department of Human Services and administered by CSU, the program also serves as a hub for private childcare providers across the Greater Roseland community, reinforcing the university’s regional leadership in childcare access and quality. 

Level-1 Global Solutions was selected to lead the design of IT and audiovisual systems throughout the facility, ensuring that every component of the new center was equipped to support digital learning, communication, and operations from day one. 

Our Scope Includes 

• Technology infrastructure planning in coordination with architects, educators, and City agency stakeholders 
• Design and implementation of wired and wireless network systems throughout the new facility 
• Audiovisual system integration across classrooms, administrative offices, and shared learning spaces 
• Support for multipurpose A/V use in cafeteria/auditorium environments for events, performances, and training 
• Installation of educational displays and collaboration tools tailored for early learning environments 
• Coordination with CSU’s Office of Information Technology to align with existing campus systems and protocols 

Level-1’s work ensured that CSU’s childcare center was not only architecturally modern but also digitally advanced and ready to serve as both a secure educational haven for children and a critical support system for student-parents striving toward academic and professional goals. By integrating thoughtful, future-ready technology, the facility reflects a broader commitment to holistic student success and early childhood equity in higher education settings.