As we continue our 90th anniversary celebration and decade by decade journey through our history, we turn our attention to the 2000s, a decade marked by transformational growth, technical leadership, and the successful execution of some of the most complex design build projects in the organization’s history.
The decade began with a moment of both reflection and progress. In August 2000, James B. Hill, Chairman of the organization, passed away at the age of 88 after 63 years of service. His leadership and vision left a lasting impact on the firm and its people. Following his passing, Warren Hill, President of the companies, assumed the role of Chairman. At this time, the organization had more than 30 graduate engineers on staff, and nearly one fourth of Hill Mechanical Group’s annual volume was attributed to design build projects, reflecting the firm’s growing technical sophistication.
Design build excellence defined the early 2000s. Unicom Thermal Technologies, Inc. served as the prime contractor for major district chilled water plant projects, including a $24 million system at The Merchandise Mart and a $10 million system at Midway Airport. In 2001, Hill Mechanical Group was ranked Illinois’s largest HVAC contractor, exceeding $135 million in revenue. The firm established a reputation for executing projects of any scale — from complex hospital systems to large industrial facilities and high-profile design build developments. That same year, HMG officially launched its website, hillmech.com, and completed major work on the Kraft Foods Technology Center, installing HVAC systems for the $7.8 million project.
In 2002, the organization further strengthened its identity when the services unit was renamed Hill Mechanical Services, clearly aligning it with the Hill Mechanical Group brand. Design build and value engineering continued to be central to the firm’s success, accounting for more than one third of annual volume. The firm also received national recognition with the National AIA Award for Architectural Metal Design, earned through a collaboration with Chicago architect Joe Valario on a galvanized steel environment fabricated by HMG and installed in New York City.
Growth accelerated in 2003 as Hill Mechanical Group surpassed $155 million in construction work, supported by a team of more than 700 employees. That year, the firm was again recognized by Midwest Construction as the largest HVAC mechanical contractor in Illinois and served as the prime contractor for HVAC systems in the historic renovation of Soldier Field Stadium.
Leadership transition and sustainability innovation defined 2004. Robert “Bob” L. Krier, a 20 year veteran of the organization, was named President of Hill Mechanical Corp., while Warren Hill continued as Chairman. During this period, the firm demonstrated industry leadership in green building technology, completing numerous LEED projects, including total HVAC design build, commissioning, and operation of the world’s first LEED CS Gold certified high rise at 111 South Wacker Drive. Total revenues once again exceeded $150 million. Additional honors included Project of the Year awards for O’Hare International Airport Terminals 2 and 3 — the company’s largest project to date at $30 million — and the University Center of Chicago, along with multiple Merit Awards across cultural, institutional, and transportation projects.
The firm’s prominence continued in 2005 with its selection as design assist contractor for the entire HVAC system at the Trump International Hotel and Tower, where HMG also self-performed extensive mechanical piping work across the 2.7 million square foot building. That year also saw completion of mechanical systems for the Field Museum Collection Resources Center and the Kohl Children’s Museum. Industry accolades followed, including Overall Project of the Year for 111 South Wacker Drive and the Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award presented to Warren Hill by Purdue University.
In 2006, Hill Mechanical Group celebrated 70 years of growth with the relocation to its new 138,000 square foot facility in Franklin Park, a milestone that significantly improved operational cohesion, materials handling, and process flow. Shortly after the move, the firm launched a major initiative to fully integrate Building Information Modeling (BIM) across all systems and processes, establishing itself as an early leader in BIM technology. That same year, HMG was selected as the mechanical piping contractor for the construction of Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s 17 story, 938,000 square foot facility – Prentice Woman’s Hospital.
By 2007, the organization employed more than 1,000 team members and continued to expand its expertise in sustainable construction. Major projects included the firm’s largest plumbing project to date at 300 North LaSalle, a 60 story, 1.3 million square foot LEED pre certified office tower, and HVAC installation for the Greenbuild Chicago 2007 Legacy Project at the Chicago Center for Green Technology. That same year, Robert W. Hill joined the firm as a Project Engineer, further extending family leadership involvement. Additional recognition included Project of the Year for Kennedy King College and an Award of Merit for 340 On the Park.
The decade neared the end in 2008 with the formal renaming of Hill Environmental Operations to Hill Mechanical Operations, reinforcing organizational alignment and clarity across business units.
The 2000s established Hill Mechanical Group as a national leader in design build execution, sustainability, and large-scale mechanical construction. Through record growth, technological advancement, leadership continuity, and landmark projects, the organization entered the next decade prepared for even greater innovation and impact.
Next month, we’ll continue our journey with a look back at the milestones that shaped our company in the 2010s.