Historic Chicago building installs first-responder technology system

CHICAGO—The historic 680 Lake Shore Drive building, also known as Lake Shore Place, has installed an electronic fire emergency plan for first responders in its management office and on a touch-screen computer in its lobby.

The CommandScope Electronic Fire Emergency Pre-Plan program, developed and installed by RealView of Chicago, includes safety information such as building construction details, contact information, location of tenants with special needs, floor plans, fire protection details, building photos and fire hydrant locations. 

“CommandScope brings together the critical emergency response information necessary to manage an incident from a 680 North Lake Shore Drive command center, either on-site or remotely,” property manager Tim Conway said in a prepared statement. “The system also provides our emergency response teams with the capacity to initiate and manage business continuity efforts to keep our tenants in business and minimize the cost of restoration to our clients.”

The 29-story, 2-million-square-foot building, encompassing an entire city block, was the largest building in the world when it was completed in 1926.  Formerly the home of Playboy Enterprises, it now houses residential condominiums, office and retail space and indoor parking.