Tomorrow at Noon: NBOA Zoom Call: Building Commissioner Marlene Hopkins and Grant Ulrich on Proposed Mechanical Code revisions, and more

Dear Neighborhood Housing Industry Colleagues and Friends;

NBOA ZOOM MEETING

The 2026 Chicago Mechanical Zoning Code:

What to Expect!

Tomorrow

Thursday, May 14, 2026

Noon – 1:15pm – Zoom

Marlene Hopkins

Commissioner,

Chicago Department

of Builidings

Panelist

Grant Ullrich

Managing Deputy

Commissioner Chicago

Department of Buildings

Panelist

Ian Hoffenberg

Law Offices of Ian B. Hoffenberg LLC

Moderator

The 2026 Chicago Mechanical Zoning Code

The NBOA Invites you to an informative Zoom call hosting lead officials from the Chicago Department of Buildings (DOB) who requested the opportunity to familiarize the NBOA community about the 2026 Chicago Mechanical Code, part of Phase 3 of the Chicago Construction Codes Modernization Initiative. DOB Commissioner Marlene Hopkins and Managing Deputy Commissioner Grant Ullrich will walk through what’s changing for building owners — including new ventilation standards for residential buildings, updated requirements for next-generation air conditioning systems, and gas-piping and appliance-safety updates for the first time in 25 years. Come with plenty of questions, as this is an opportunity to connect with the department as the package moves through the City Council.

Time permitting, our moderator, Ian Hoffenberg, will open the meeting up so that attendees can pose questions on other DOB issues.

Biographies

Marlene Hopkins took the helm of the nation’s third-largest building department in March of 2024, following her nomination by Mayor Brandon Johnson, and was unanimously confirmed as Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Buildings a month later. Hopkins has served the City of Chicago for more than 25 years, including 18 years in leadership roles within the DOB. Hopkins brings a wealth of experience, a deep commitment to economic development, and a passion for community reinvestment to her new role. During her tenure with DOB, Hopkins has been instrumental in managing the day-to-day operations from the office and in the field. She played a crucial role in the rewrite of the Chicago Construction Codes, aligning them with industry standards and developing effective code enforcement strategies to improve the safety and quality of life for all Chicagoans. As First Deputy Commissioner, Hopkins has been responsible for ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal regulations, managing budgets, and fostering economic development through efficient permit issuance and inspections. Hopkins holds a Master’s Degree in Legal Studies with a focus on Criminal Justice from Trinity Law School and a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Leadership from Roosevelt University. She is a lifelong Chicagoan who grew up in Avalon Park.

Grant Ullrich, Assoc. AIA is the Managing Deputy Commissioner of the City of Chicago Department of Buildings with responsibility for code development, policy, and administration. Grant is a licensed attorney and holds professional degrees in law and architecture from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Prior to joining the Department of Buildings in 2016, he worked in the City’s Law Department, handling a wide variety of matters, including code enforcement, legislative drafting, and constitutional litigation.

Ian Hoffenberg, Law Offices of Ian B. Hoffenberg, Ian is an experienced attorney based in Evanston, Illinois, specializing in commercial, real estate, and business litigation, as well as business transactions. Founder of the Law Offices of Ian B. Hoffenberg LLC, he has over 18 years of experience serving the Chicagoland area. Ian is also a founding member of the new North Suburban Housing Providers and he serves on the Board of the NBOA.