A national life safety integrator now has a direct foothold in the Chicago market through an established local firm. That firm brings almost three decades of regional relationships with it.
Beacon Communications LLC has acquired Low Voltage Solutions Inc (LVS)., a technology solutions provider based in Lockport, Ill.
The announcement didn’t include financial terms.
Key Things to Know:
- Beacon Communications LLC, a national provider of critical communications and life safety systems, has acquired Low Voltage Solutions Inc. (LVS) of Lockport, Ill.
- LVS has operated since 1997 and serves clients including Northwestern University, Chicago Public Schools, Shedd Aquarium and Argonne National Laboratory.
- The deal expands Beacon’s reach into healthcare, government, education and commercial work across Illinois and the greater Chicago region.
- LVS customers gain access to Beacon’s national resources, manufacturer partnerships and 24/7 support.
- LVS General Manager Nick Siwak and the current leadership team will guide the business forward.
What Did Beacon Communications Acquire?
Beacon Communications acquired Low Voltage Solutions, a Chicago-area provider of structured cabling, security, fire and life safety, and AV systems. The deal grows Beacon’s presence in Illinois and its ability to serve healthcare, government, education and commercial customers in the region.
For Beacon, the acquisition isn’t about adding a new service line. It’s about adding local people and local accounts in a market it wants to grow.
Who Is Low Voltage Solutions?
LVS is a full-service low-voltage integrator that began as a voice and data cabling contractor in 1997. Over almost 30 years, the company expanded into a broader mix of integrated technology systems.
Today, LVS designs, installs and supports voice, data and fiber optic cabling, electronic security, fire alarm and AV systems. Its team of project managers, engineers and union electricians handles projects from design through installation.
Which Customers Does LVS Serve?
LVS serves healthcare, education, government, industrial, commercial, hospitality and retail clients across the Chicago area. Its client roster includes several of the region’s well-known institutions:
- Northwestern University
- University of Illinois Chicago
- Morris Hospital
- Silver Cross Hospital
- Chicago Public Schools
- Shedd Aquarium
- Argonne National Laboratory
- Verizon
That list matters to Beacon. Universities, hospitals and public school systems tend to generate long-term service work, not just one-time installs.
What Does Beacon Bring to the Deal?
Beacon brings national scale, an established manufacturer network and 24/7 customer support. Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Littleton, Colo., the company designs, engineers, installs and manages integrated electronic security and communication systems.
Its portfolio covers nurse call, access control, intercom, infant protection and real-time location systems (RTLS). It also covers fire alarm and life safety, AV and structured cabling. Beacon serves healthcare, government, education, commercial, energy and infrastructure organizations and provides staff training for its customers.
What Changes for LVS Customers?
LVS customers keep the same local team while gaining access to Beacon’s national resources. Those resources include companywide support, wider manufacturer partnerships and around-the-clock customer service.
The added partnerships span security technology, nurse call, access control, intercom, infant protection, RTLS, AV and managed services. For a hospital client, that could mean one provider handling cabling, fire alarm, nurse call and infant protection under a single relationship.
Gary St. Cin, president of Low Voltage Solutions, stresses continuity for existing clients.
“For our customers, that means the same people, relationships and commitment they have come to expect, backed by the added strength and opportunities of Beacon,” he says.
What Do Beacon Customers Gain?
Beacon customers gain LVS’s local expertise and established relationships across the Chicago region. National reach doesn’t replace knowing the local market, and LVS fills that gap for Beacon in Illinois.
Brad Walsh, CEO of Beacon Communications, points to LVS’s reputation and culture as the deciding factors.
“Gary, Teresa and the entire LVS team have built something truly special over the past two decades, with a strong reputation, exceptional customer relationships and a culture that closely reflects our own,” Walsh says.
He adds that the goal is to combine the two teams and build on what LVS has already established. “What excites me most is the opportunity to bring our talented teams together, build on the foundation they’ve established and create new opportunities for our employees and customers,” he says.
Who Will Lead LVS After the Acquisition?
LVS General Manager Nick Siwak and the existing leadership team will guide the company as part of Beacon. St. Cin presents the deal as a way to add resources without changing the company’s people-first approach.
“LVS has always been built around our people, the relationships we’ve developed and the commitment we bring to every customer,” St. Cin says. “This partnership with Beacon gives us the opportunity to build on that foundation while bringing additional resources and capabilities to the table. I’m especially confident in our General Manager, Nick Siwak, and the leadership team as they guide LVS into this next chapter.”
What Does the Deal Mean for Commercial Integrators?
The deal shows national life safety firms are buying established regional integrators to win local accounts faster than they could build them. Beacon gets an existing client base and a union workforce. LVS gets national purchasing power and support capacity.
If you compete for healthcare, education or government work in the Chicago area, expect a rival with deeper manufacturer ties and 24/7 support behind a familiar local team. If you run a regional integrator with strong institutional accounts, this deal is a clear example of what national buyers value: long-term client relationships, a skilled workforce and a culture that holds up after the sale.
