As we continue our 90th anniversary celebration and decade by decade look at our history, we turn our attention to the 1980s, a decade defined by leadership transition, technological advancement, and organizational alignment.
In 1980, Warren Hill became President of the organization, marking an important generational transition in leadership. James B. Hill remained Chairman for the next 20 years, ensuring continuity of vision and values during a period of significant growth and change. That same year, Kohlman Hill, Inc. was formed, bringing plumbers and the service department together under a unified entity and strengthening the firm’s self-perform capabilities. This structure reinforced coordination across disciplines while maintaining a strong foundation rooted in engineering and craftsmanship.
Throughout the 1980s, the organization remained committed to staying technically current and forward thinking. In 1983, the company purchased its first computer-aided drafting system and served as a beta site for the system developer. Kohlman engineers contributed ideas that helped shape many architectural and engineering CAD operations that became industry standards.
On the fabrication side, the sheet metal shop acquired one of the industry’s first computer-controlled plasma cutting machines, programmed by Federal Ventilating personnel, along with the first stations of an automatic duct fabrication line. These investments significantly improved efficiency, precision, and production capacity.
A major organizational milestone followed in 1984 with the acquisition of the right to use the name and certain assets of Mehring Hanson and Wendt, Inc., the merger of two historic Chicago mechanical firms. Mehring Hanson, founded in 1875, was one of the nation’s first national mechanical contractors and built major projects including The Pentagon. O.A. Wendt Company served as the HVAC contractor for many of Chicago’s prominent high-rise buildings beginning in the 1920s and later large-scale projects. Just as significant as the name, were the people. Vice Presidents Bob Nash and George Wyatt, along with many skilled tradespeople, joined the organization. To reflect this relationship, Federal Ventilating Company was renamed Hill Wendt Corp.
That same year, Bob Krier joined the organization. With a background in construction engineering, he introduced new methods for refining and managing the construction process, contributing to improved planning, execution, and project oversight.
In 1986, the organization proudly marked its 50th year in business, a milestone that reflected decades of steady growth, innovation, and a strong commitment to people. As the decade came to a close, another important step in organizational alignment was taken. In 1989, all firms were unified under the Hill Mechanical Group banner, creating a coordinated identity that aligned leadership and strategy while preserving the strengths of each individual company.
By the end of the 1980s, the organization had successfully navigated leadership transitions, embraced advanced technologies, expanded capabilities, and strengthened its corporate structure. These efforts solidified its technical edge and positioned the company for continued growth and evolution in the decades ahead.
Next month, we’ll continue our journey with a look back at the milestones that shaped our company in the 1990s.