Powering a Destination Brewery, Restaurant, and Entertainment Venue
Project Goals
Our goal was to transform an existing shell space into a vibrant brewery, restaurant, and community gathering destination that delivers an exceptional guest experience while supporting the operational demands of brewing, food service, entertainment, and year-round events. Through a collaborative design-build approach, TSG provided integrated electrical, limited energy, fire alarm, and prefabrication solutions that helped bring Big Grove Brewery's vision to life.
Big Grove Brewery transformed an existing shell space into one of Iowa City’s premier destinations for dining, entertainment, and community engagement. The project features 9,861 square feet of brewery and restaurant space complemented by an expansive 8,475-square-foot outdoor patio designed to host gatherings throughout the year. The outdoor environment includes partially covered seating, fire pits, and radiant heating systems that create a comfortable and welcoming experience for guests across all seasons.
As part of the design-build team, Thompson Solutions Group delivered comprehensive electrical construction, limited energy, fire alarm, and prefabrication services to support the facility’s operations and guest experience. Our teams provided the electrical infrastructure required for brewing operations, a full-service commercial kitchen, restaurant amenities, and hospitality spaces, while ensuring the building’s life-safety and low-voltage systems were seamlessly integrated throughout the facility.
TSG’s scope included the installation of power distribution systems, low-voltage infrastructure, fire alarm systems, and electrical systems supporting both front-of-house and back-of-house operations. Careful coordination was required to support brewery production equipment, food service operations, guest amenities, and outdoor entertainment spaces while maintaining the flexibility needed for a dynamic hospitality environment.
The completed facility serves as more than a brewery and restaurant. It has become a destination gathering place that combines craft brewing, dining, live entertainment, and community events in a single environment. Big Grove’s Iowa City location opened in 2017 and has evolved into one of the area’s most recognized hospitality and entertainment venues, demonstrating TSG’s ability to deliver integrated building systems that support both operational performance and memorable guest experiences.
Project Highlights
* Converted an existing shell space into a destination brewery, restaurant, and entertainment venue.
* Delivered complete electrical and fire alarm systems supporting brewery, kitchen, and hospitality operations.
* Installed electrical infrastructure serving both indoor and outdoor guest environments.
* Supported year-round outdoor experiences through electrical infrastructure for fire pits and radiant heating.
* Executed the project through a collaborative design-build process.
* Provided integrated electrical, limited energy, and prefabrication services.
* Created infrastructure supporting dining, entertainment, and community events.
