Purge. Pack. Pizza. Tomorrow’s the Day!

We’re getting ready to move out—help make it smooth by cleaning and consolidating your workspace.

Pepper Purge Day #1 is TOMORROW!

• Locked shred boxes and gondolas are placed throughout the building.

• Take a break and enjoy pizza in the lunchroom at 11:30.

• Organized purges will happen every Friday in January—lunch provided!

Packing Tips

• Decide what to purge or scan and store digitally.

• Boxes are available around the office and in the reception area.

• Your new space will be smaller, similar to the stations at 643. You may not be able to take everything to your new permanent location.

  

• Organize your boxes into three groups:

  1. Personal items – take these home during the renovation.

  2. Items you’ll need over the next year – these will be moved to your temporary workspace.

  3. Items you need but not in the next 12 months – these can be stored at Hagar until the renovation is complete.

• Need longer-term document retention? Contact your department leader.

• Label all boxes with your full name, department, destination, and box number. You’re responsible for logging box numbers and contents—this will help if we need to retrieve anything from storage.

We’re targeting February 2 to begin our migration to temporary housing.

Questions? Reach out to your department leader.

Thank you for your patience and teamwork as we make this transition. Your efforts help ensure Pepper’s success!

Announcing our Barrington Remodel

I’m excited to share that our Barrington office renovation—called The 411 for our address at 411 Lake Zurich Road—is moving from design to reality. Construction begins March 2026, with completion set for January 2027.

We’re investing in a workspace that supports how we work today and prepares us for tomorrow. The 411 renovation is all about wellbeing, collaboration and sustainability.

This isn’t just a facelift. We’re replacing the roof, curtainwall and HVAC systems, and weaving high performance strategies throughout the space. Like our other offices, Barrington will show our clients how high performance design can transform comfort, support a healthier environment and deliver operational value.

Design Highlights

Perkins + Will designed the space to maximize natural light, blending mid-century, light-reflecting birds-eye maple with a natural palette and biophilic touches honor the following priorities

• A Feeling of Openness and Access to Light

• Collaboration and Flexibility

• Preserved Character and Enhanced Amenities

• Wellness and Sustainability

The following renderings are still in development, but they capture the design intent.

Expect light-filled spaces, exposed ceilings and reconfigured layouts for better flow and spontaneous collaboration. 

You’ll see nods to Pepper’s heritage green and finishes that reflect the building’s mid-century roots.

The relocated café will overlook the western woods and feature an outdoor patio for easy access to nature.

The new office will feature multiple collaborative meeting spaces designed for flexibility and hospitality.

Our new space will feature sustainable materials, a new clerestory and geothermal wells for heating and cooling—another step in our commitment to transform tomorrow.

What’s next?

To make this experience as smooth as possible, we will:

1. Minimize disruption to productivity and quality of life

2. Provide transparent, regular updates

3. Address concerns and questions proactively

We’re building a web-based hub for all project information—more details coming soon. In the meantime, here’s what’s on the horizon:

• Please start preparing for move-out by the end of February. 

• Demolition is expected to begin around March 1^st, 2026

• We will schedule purge and cleaning days, but start thinking about what you can clear out now.

• We are in the process of developing a people-focused work plan that includes temporary workspace in an offsite, leased facility in Barrington, options in other offices and jobsites, and work-from-home arrangements.

• Have questions? We will place whiteboards in temporary workspaces for Q&A, and the website will also have an option for feedback. If you have immediate questions, email info@pepperconstruction.com.