Gulu Electric adds energy to Niles senior apartment building

Before the walls are closed and the fixtures installed, the work Gulu Electric is doing at Grace Village Apartments in Niles is measured in planning, coordination and thousands of feet of wire.

Electricians are working in a three-story, 42-unit senior living building off of Route 422, which includes one-bedroom apartments, a community room, laundry area, exercise room, manager’s office and shared spaces for residents 55 and older.

“This type of project is familiar for Gulu,” said Chris Platton, foreman, Gulu Electric. “We’ve done some in Cleveland and one similar to this in Boardman.”

Rough-in rhythm

Electricians started wiring the building in February 2026 while construction was still moving through its early stages. The roof was not fully complete, which meant Gulu Electric had to adjust to winter conditions while keeping the electrical work on track.

For the apartment layouts, repetition is helping to create momentum.

“Once we figure out a way to do it, we just repeat that same thing over and over again,” Platton said.

Inside the main electrical room, Gulu’s work shows how much planning goes into powering a multi-unit building. Separate systems will serve the apartments, common areas, corridors, laundry room and elevator.

Each apartment has its own feeder running from the electrical room to the unit’s panel.

Platton estimated about 5,500 feet of larger feeder wire was pulled for the apartment panels alone. The crew also used nearly 7,000 feet of 14-gauge wire and roughly 5,000 feet of 12-gauge wire inside the units.

Platton and an apprentice divided each apartment into sections, helping them move steadily from unit to unit as rough-in work progressed.

“Once you get into a rhythm, it goes really fast,” he said.

Activating efficiency

Grace Village also includes a lighting system designed with energy efficiency in mind.

“All of the lighting for the corridor and main areas will use LED fixtures – and will be put on motion sensors or special low-voltage type dimmers,” Platton said.

That means lighting will adjust when traffic is lighter. The technology isn’t new, but it’s not something electricians get to see at every job.

“It’s a little more complex, but getting to work through these types of systems is nice.”

Timing, teamwork and troubleshooting

Outside the building, Platton pointed to adjustments made due to wetlands surrounding portions of the property. Electricians had to carefully coordinate around underground conduit and the future transformer area.

“We had to encase all the pipe in concrete, so that added a challenge for sure.”

Problem-solving like that is just part of the job. Electricians also have to stay coordinated with other trades so each phase can keep moving.

Staying ahead of the next phase keeps everything on schedule and helps other crews continue their work.

“If you fall behind, you’re making everybody else wait,” Platton said. “When something involves another trade, I’ll work with them directly, and we’ll come up with a solution.”

This project has also put Platton in a larger leadership role for Gulu.

“This is my first job as a foreman, and it’s been a good experience.”

Grace Village is expected to be completed by spring 2027.

Gulu Electric is a member contractor of NECA-IBEW Electricians, an association consisting of IBEW Local 64 in Youngstown, IBEW Local 573 in Warren and signatory electrical contractors throughout the Mahoning Valley.