Location: Highwood, IL
Services: Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing
Category: Retail Store
Area: 3000 Sq. Ft
Software: REVIT, HAP5.11, COMcheck, McQuay Duct & Pipe sizers

La Union Supermarket is a neighborhood retail grocery store designed to support efficient operations while ensuring customer comfort, food safety, and regulatory compliance. 3S MEP provided comprehensive Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) design services to deliver a fully coordinated, safe, and energy-efficient facility serving retail, butcher, and kitchen areas.

Mechanical design addressed several key challenges, including space coordination constraints, high internal heat loads from kitchen equipment, and air infiltration resulting from frequent customer door openings. To maintain proper indoor environmental conditions, positive pressurization was maintained in the retail sales area, while controlled negative pressure was established in the kitchen to contain odors and heat.

Custom low-profile exhaust hoods were designed in coordination with the architectural layout to effectively capture kitchen exhaust while accommodating ceiling height limitations. Dedicated makeup air systems were provided to balance exhaust airflow and maintain proper pressurization throughout the space. Gas-fired furnaces with cooling coils, along with exhaust fans and air handling units, were designed to deliver efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, ensuring consistent comfort for customers and staff.

The plumbing scope included complete domestic water, sanitary, and natural gas systems. Sanitary piping was designed to incorporate grease waste management through a dedicated grease interceptor selected to support a 90-day maintenance cycle. Grease interceptors, as required by code for commercial kitchen operations exceeding FOG (fats, oils, and grease) discharge thresholds, prevent sewer blockages and protect municipal wastewater systems and waterways.

Domestic water systems were designed to provide reliable cold, hot, and recirculated hot water using electric water heaters, expansion tanks, and circulation pumps. Natural gas piping was carefully routed and sized to ensure proper load distribution and pressure regulation for all gas-fired equipment, providing safe and dependable operation.

The electrical design included lighting and lighting control layouts developed in compliance with IECC requirements and the client’s operational needs, incorporating energy-efficient automatic control strategies. Power distribution was designed in accordance with NEC requirements and equipment specifications. A key objective of the project was to fully utilize the existing electrical distribution system, reusing existing circuits where feasible while ensuring that panel capacities were not exceeded.

Through close coordination across all disciplines, the project delivered a fully integrated MEP design that supports safe operation, energy efficiency, and long-term reliability. The completed design provides a comfortable, well-ventilated, and code-compliant environment that meets the operational demands of a modern retail supermarket.