As we continue our 90th anniversary celebration and decade by decade journey through our history, we turn our attention to the 2010s, a decade defined by strategic expansion, tragedy, increased technical depth, and continued organizational alignment.
The decade began in 2010 with significant investment in both specialty services and infrastructure. Hill/Ahern Fire Protection was established, expanding the organization’s life safety capabilities and reinforcing its commitment to comprehensive mechanical and fire protection solutions. That same year, the company undertook a major campus expansion totaling 325,000 square feet across 30 acres, supporting a growing workforce, enhanced fabrication capacity, and long-term operational flexibility.
Growth through integration characterized the early years of the decade. In 2012, Aero Testing & Balancing joined Hill, bringing specialized expertise in air and water system performance. That year also marked the creation of an established modular construction operation, strengthening the firm’s ability to deliver efficient, repeatable, and high-quality solutions across projects of increasing scale and complexity.
2013 – A Year of Loss, Resilience, and Leadership
In late November 2013, Hill held its strategic planning meetings, continued to focus on the company’s long-term vision and growth. Immediately following, the organization experienced a tremendous loss with the sudden passing of President Bob Krier. Bob was instrumental in strengthening the business and helping position it for the future. A champion of innovation and technology, he played a key role in advancing Building Information Modeling (BIM) within the organization and was deeply committed to developing future leaders. His mentorship and guidance helped shape the next generation of Hill Mechanical leadership. Following his passing, Chairman Warren Hill reengaged to provide strong leadership and businesses, stability, and cohesion during a difficult transition. Many employees stepped up to assume additional responsibilities and ensure the company continued to move forward. Their dedication and teamwork helped guide Hill Mechanical through this challenging period.
Leadership evolution and continued diversification defined 2014. Jim Hill was named President of the company, providing continuity of leadership and reinforcing a long-term strategic vision rooted in engineering excellence and operational discipline. That same year, Superior Mechanical Systems joined the Hill/Ahern team, further expanding technical capabilities and service offerings within the organization.
Hill’s expertise in delivering complex, mission-critical mechanical systems is reflected in several landmark projects for leading healthcare and research institutions. At the University of Chicago’s 265,000-square-foot Division of the Physical Sciences building, Hill provided sophisticated HVAC, laboratory ventilation, hydronic, and specialty gas systems supporting advanced research laboratories, cleanrooms, and imaging suites.
At Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s 27-story, 1.2 million-square-foot replacement facility, Hill delivered the complete HVAC scope, including central plant equipment, extensive air handling systems, and building-wide ductwork and piping infrastructure.
Hill also served as the mechanical contractor for Northwestern University’s 700,000-square-foot biomedical research facility, installing highly specialized HVAC, laboratory ventilation, central utility, and specialty piping systems essential for cutting-edge medical and scientific research. Together, these projects demonstrate Hill’s ability to execute highly technical, large-scale healthcare and research environments through innovative engineering, collaborative project delivery, and reliable, high-performance building systems.
Geographic expansion followed in 2016 with Precision Control Systems in Indiana joining the Hill team, broadening the firm’s regional presence and enhancing its controls and systems expertise. As the organization continued to evolve, an important brand milestone occurred in 2018 when Hill/Ahern Fire Protection became Hill Fire Protection, aligning the name more closely with the unified Hill identity while reflecting the group’s maturation and integrated approach.
The decade concluded with continued forward momentum. In 2019, Hill Indy was established, reinforcing the company’s commitment to regional growth and close client partnerships while positioning the organization for future opportunities.
The 2010s reinforced Hill’s focus on thoughtful expansion, integrated services, and leadership continuity. Through strategic investments, brand evolution, and geographic growth, the organization strengthened its foundation and entered the next decade prepared for continued innovation and impact.