Cook County Bureau of Technology Surveillance System Assessment & Improvements

Level-1 upgraded Cook County BOT’s surveillance systems with UPS power protection, ensuring security resilience across 82 facilities.

Cook County, the second largest in the United States, is home to more than 40 percent of Illinois residents and a vast network of government buildings spanning courthouses, jails, police stations, and administrative offices. To align with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s disaster preparedness requirements, the Cook County Bureau of Technology (BOT) sought to enhance the resilience of newly upgraded video surveillance systems by implementing uninterruptible power supply (UPS) infrastructure at high-security facilities across the region. 

Level-1 Global Solutions was selected to lead this critical initiative as the subconsultant to the primary, Johnson Controls. BOT entrusted our team to conduct a comprehensive power protection assessment for the county’s surveillance network across 132 facilities. After a rigorous evaluation, Level-1 identified 82 municipal buildings where electrical systems required upgrades to support independent power protection for newly deployed IP-based security cameras. These improvements were funded in part by a Homeland Security grant that required both technical performance and compliance with strict federal procurement rules. 

Due to the diverse nature of building types and code enforcement across municipalities, Level-1 created and installed a tailored solution strategy for each facility. We evaluated local code requirements, building specifications, and grant standards to categorize facilities into three tiers of needed UPS systems. Each tier was matched with appropriate equipment sourced from a US-based manufacturer, enabling compliance with the ‘Buy American’ clause while also securing volume pricing to stretch grant funding further. 

Our Scope Includes 

• County-wide assessment of 132 Cook County buildings for UPS support of new surveillance systems 
• Identification of 82 facilities requiring redesign and upgrade of electrical systems 
• Design of tiered power protection strategies tailored to building size, type, and code requirements 
• Procurement of U.S.-manufactured UPS equipment in compliance with Homeland Security ‘Buy American’ regulations 
• Site-specific installation planning based on municipal electrical codes and operational conditions 
• Installation and integration of UPS systems in 82 facilities to ensure surveillance continuity during power loss or disaster events 

Through this assessment and implementation program, Level-1 helped Cook County fortify its surveillance infrastructure with power resiliency that meets both federal expectations and local realities. In doing so, we advanced the County’s ability to maintain public safety, operational continuity, and system integrity during emergencies delivering a critical foundation for homeland security preparedness across one of the nation’s most complex regional government networks.