November 8, 2024

Absolute Fire Protection, working for Mortenson Construction Milwaukee has been awarded the new 10-Story Froedtert Hospital patient tower in Wauwatosa, WI.

The multi-million-dollar fire sprinkler contract includes state-of-the-art fire sprinkler systems, pre-action systems and high-rise standpipe systems. 

Absolute Fire was selected based on our extensive experience in the health care market working closely with facility managers to ensure patient protection and health safety.

The 225,000-square-foot tower will be situated where the main entrance of the hospital is located on North 92nd Street and West Doyne Avenue. The structure will include inpatient care floors, a new main lobby expansion and a bridge connector to a parking structure currently under construction across North 92nd Street. Construction will start in summer 2024, with an anticipated opening in 2027.

July 15, 2024

Continuing with our string of awards in the automotive sector Absolute Fire Protection is under contract for six new car and truck dealerships throughout the Northern Illinois region.

Facilities for Honda, Cadillac, Genesis, Subaru, Hyundai and Dodge Ram to name a few.

Deep experience in this sector has made Absolute Fire the go-to fire sprinkler contractor.

July 9, 2024

Absolute Fire Protection, working for Cord Construction, has been awarded the multi-million-dollar fire sprinkler contract for the new PCI Pharma Services building $150M biologics center located in Rockford, IL.

The new facility, expandable to 500,000 square feet will include specialized systems to accommodate the Pharma industry including warehousing, clean-rooms and fire pumps.

PCI Pharma Services is building a new $150 million facility in Rockford that will increase its capacity to make injectable drug-delivery devices that can be used in oncology treatment, as well as for diabetes, weight loss and autoimmune diseases.

The project will be designed by Absolute Fire’s in-house design group and installed by our Local 669 Union sprinkler fitters.  The project should be complete by the end of 2025.

March 15, 2024

Absolute Fire Protection, working for CG Schmidt, Inc. of Milwaukee, WI, has been awarded the fire sprinkler contract for the new Green County WI YMCA facility.

The Green County Family YMCA on Thursday announced that its capital campaign crossed $25 million in donations and pledges, unlocking an additional $20 million in donations from the Colony Brands Foundation.

The project will be designed by Absolute Fire’s in-house design group and installed by our Local 669 Union sprinkler fitters.  The project should be complete by the end of 2025.

December 6, 2023

Absolute Fire Protection, after competing in a public bid process, has been awarded the fire sprinkler systems for the new Zion-Benton Township High School District 126 new Performance Arts Center in Zion, IL.

Working for Camosy Construction the substation addition is to be complete by school start 2025.

The system will be designed by Absolute Fire’s in-house design group and installed by our Local 281 Union sprinkler fitters.

November 15, 2023

Absolute Fire Protection, after competing in a public bid process, has been awarded the fire sprinkler systems upgrade to the Rockford Mass Transit facility to accommodate the new fleet of electric busses.

The highly specialized protection systems for Lithium battery protection were designed by Absolute Fire’s in-house design group and installed by our Local 669 Union sprinkler fitters.

The grant funding the purchase of the vehicles was part of a bipartisan infrastructure law that provides $5.5 billion over five years to go toward low- or no-emission vehicles. For this fiscal year, about $1.1 billion in federal grants is available for the program.

October 1, 2023

Absolute Fire Protection, has been awarded the fire sprinkler contract for a portfolio of Freddy’s Frozen Custards restaurants throughout the Chicago area.  The projects should be complete by summer 2024.

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers is a fast-casual chain that has experienced rapid growth in recent years.  As of 2023, Freddy's had 515 locations. The chain plans to open 60–70 locations in 2024, and aims to reach 800 locations by 2026. 

August 21, 2023

Building on our presence in SE Wisconsin Absolute Fire Protection was awarded the fire sprinkler systems for the new Village of Pleasant Prairie’s new Fire Station No. 3 and the 39^th St Police Station.

Working for Riley Construction the two projects represent a $40 million investment into emergency services for the Pleasant Prairie Community and are expected to be completed in the summer of 2024.

March 2023

Absolute Fire Protection is gearing up for another busy summer season with a multi-million-dollar school project backlog. 

From the Mississippi to Lake Michigan, Ottawa, IL to Kenosha, WI our book of business is geographically well diversified and includes our in-house sprinkler fitters from both Sprinkler Fitters Local 669 and Local 281.

To name a few, all to be complete by fall 2023:

March 2023

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc., continuing a string of successful public bids, has been awarded the retrofit of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation high-rise.  Known as WARF, a nonprofit foundation that patents discoveries made by researchers at the University of Wisconsin. 

Absolute Fire will be assigned to Pepper Construction Wisconsin as construction manager.  The 10-story retrofit will begin in early summer 2023 and be complete by year end.   

WARF became a model for foundations at other leading research universities. WARF is a separate legal entity from the University of Wisconsin, though it stands on the university campus. It files patents for university researchers, licenses its patented products and processes, and then uses these funds to make grants to the university and to invest in start-up companies. WARF's endowment had grown to some $1.3 billion. It returned about $40 million annually to the University of Wisconsin.

August 2022

Absolute Fire Protection working for Frederick Quinn Corporation is awarded the fire sprinkler systems contract for the remodel and additions to the Joseph Sears School for the Kenilworth SD 38. 

The facilities plan calls for the retention of the school's facade on Abbotsford Road and its auditorium, while "nearly all aspects of the school" will be upgraded

The project consists of standpipes and approximately 1,000 sprinklers for the addition and existing building remodel. The systems will be designed by installed Absolute’s in-house designers/BIM and installed by Local 281 sprinkler fitters.

The multi-year project is scheduled for completion 4Q2023.

August 2022

Absolute Fire Protection working for Walsh Construction is awarded the fire sprinkler systems contract for the new 400,000 SQFT senior living facility for Oak Trace Community in Downers Grove, IL. 

The million-dollar install project consists of standpipes and approximately 3,000 sprinklers. The systems will be designed by installed Absolute’s in-house designers/BIM and installed by Local 281 sprinkler fitters.

The project is scheduled for completion 3Q2023.

May 2022

Absolute Fire Protection is awarded the retrofit of the University of Wisconsin Madison College of Engineering. 

Winning in a public bid opening and being assigned to Daniels Construction the million dollar retrofit consists of a new fire pump, standpipes and retrofitting approximately 2,000 sprinklers. 

The project was installed while the College was occupied, and classes were in session.  This required a very closely coordinated install schedule with as little disruption as possible.

The project is scheduled for completion 1Q2023.

July 2021

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc, working for MSI General Corporation, has been selected and awarded the million-dollar fire protection contract for the WOW Logistics facility in Loves Park, Illinois

The project will consist of multi Pre-Action system supplied with a new fire pump.   

WOW Logistics is a nationally recognized integrated supply chain solutions provider with unparalleled expertise storing and handling food-grade products.

The project is scheduled for a second quarter 2022 completion.

December 10, 2020

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc, working for Mortenson Construction, has been selected and awarded the multi-million-dollar fire protection contract for the massive new Facebook $800 million data center in DeKalb. 

The 907,000 square-foot data center, Facebook’s 12th in the U.S. and first in Illinois will consist of multi state-of-the-art pre-action fire sprinkler systems, fire pump assemblies and Nitrogen generators.  The fire protection systems will be BIM designed in-house by Absolute’s NICET certified design team and installed by our Local 669 sprinkler fitters.

This award by Mortenson Construction to Absolute Fire Protection, Inc. continues a strong relationship between the two companies which started with Rockford’s largest ever construction project, the Mercy Health Center in 2016 and has expanded into several States and various landmark projects.

The Facebook site can hold five buildings, and two will be completed by 2022, the company said.  The project will create about 100 permanent jobs and depend on 100 percent renewable energy.

“It’s a boon to our community, and once online, this data center will be part of a network that connects people all over the world,” DeKalb Mayor Jerry Smith said in a news release.

February 18, 2020

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc, working for CG Schmidt Construction Manager has been awarded the fire sprinkler contract for the new Fischer Paper Products, an Antioch-based paper packaging manufacturer serving the foodservice industry.  Fischer Paper Products broke ground on the new 200,000 square foot headquarters.

Designed in-house by Absolute Fire Protection’s engineering group and utilizing state-of-the-art ESFR sprinkler protection with a new fire pump assembly installed by AFP’s Local 281 union field fitters.

The new building will merge Fischer’s two current locations into one facility.  Joshua Fischer, the company’s president & owner, stated, “Our new facility will bring our whole business together under one roof, helping streamline processes and building an even stronger team dynamic.  

The project completion goal is fall 2020.

January 13, 2020

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc, working for MTI Construction Services has been awarded the fire sprinkler contract for the new Streamwood, IL Fire Station No 1 and the new Public works facility.

Streamwood officials to undertake a plan to replace the village's 47-year-old Fire Station 1 and similarly outdated public works headquarters with new facilities by spring 2021. The need to replace these buildings was identified by a comprehensive study of all the village's infrastructure a few years ago, Streamwood Village Manager Sharon Caddigan said. Both projects are planned to be done simultaneously and funded by an estimated $20 million bond issue, which the village board might authorize near the end of the year, she said.

The project completion goal is 2021.

December 8, 2019

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc, working for R L Sohol General Contractors of Plainfield , IL, has been awarded the fire sprinkler contract for the new and remodeled Morris, IL  Saratoga School.

The $12 Million dollar project will renovate some parts of the building, including the small gymnasium, and add in new areas, such as new classrooms, STEAM laboratories, a kitchen and an asphalt bus loop.

The project completion goal is the 2020-2021 school year start.

September 9, 2019

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc. has been chosen by M. A. Mortenson Construction of Brookfield, WI to provide the highly specialized fire protection systems for the $228 million Advocate Aurora Health of Mt. Pleasant, WI Aurora Medical Center’s new 298,500 square foot hospital and medical office building.

This award follows our previous M. A. Mortenson Construction award of the $485 million Mercyhealth Rockford campus which was largest construction project in Rockford, IL’s history. 

Lisa Just, president of Advocate Aurora Health’s Racine Kenosha Lake Patient Service Area, said that construction is expected to begin in September. She said the medical center is still on schedule to open in “very early 2022.”

The million-dollar plus fire protection contract will be designed with Absolute Fire Protection’s in-house Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology design specialists and installed by our Rockford, IL based Local Union 669 sprinkler fitters.

Absolute Fire Protection is very proud to be part of Advocate Aurora Health’s major investment in important health services. 

June 10, 2019

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc., working for Winter Construction, has been awarded the fire sprinkler system contract for the new Halo Branded Solutions warehouse addition in Sterling Illinois.  The project consists of a 360,000 SQFT ESFR (Early Suppression Fast Response) roof systems, fire pump assembly and a buildout project covering the installation of offices.

The company has plans to create 250 jobs over the next 5 years, which would double its current workforce.

 “When we combine everything in the new building, it should increase our available space by 50 percent,” said Terry McGuire, senior vice president of marketing at Halo. “We really wanted everything under one roof, and this was an opportunity to do that.”

It is expected the project will be complete by the second quarter 2020.

January 7, 2019

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc., working for Scandroli Construction has been awarded the fire sprinkler system contract for the new Amazon Distribution Center at the Chicago-Rockford Airport.  The project consists of a 200,000 SQFT ESFR (Early Suppression Fast Response) roof systems plus an extensive buildout project covering the installation of offices, conveyors, platforms and related equipment.

A $9 million federal grant will pay for expanded parking for cargo jets at Chicago Rockford International Airport, where the nation’s 22nd-busiest airfreight hub will soon add 500 jobs.

It is expected the project will be complete by the fourth quarter 2019.

December 2018.

Come full circle.  Absolute Fire Protection, Inc. working direct for Urban Equities Properties has been awarded the remodel of the historic Talcott Building on West State St, Rockford. 

The retrofit of the Talcott Building was the first project Absolute Fire Protection, Inc was awarded in 2006 and we have now been hired to help bring this building into its next phase.

Urban Equity Properties, would bring 87 market rate luxury apartments downtown.

The buildings will feature modern lofts and apartments, luxury appliances, fitness centers and other amenities. The investment, when acquisition, carrying and other costs are included, totals $27.8 million on Rockford’s west side, Fern said.

 “We are comfortable with the downtown Rockford market and have been for many years now,” Fern said. “We are definitely confident that we are going to be successful. We have been on all our prior projects and we will continue to be.”

February 5, 2018

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc., continuing a long and valued relationship with D.L.K. Enterprises, Inc., has been awarded the fire sprinkler work for the new 6-Story student housing project Whitewater Suites. 

D.L.K. Enterprises, the leader in UW-Whitewater student rentals, is constructing, on a very aggressive schedule, a new state-of-the-art student housing project, adding to their extensive portfolio of facilities in Whitewater.

January 3, 2018

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc., working for the prime contractor Graycor Construction Company as well as multiple build-out contractors, has been awarded the fire sprinkler work at the Melody Farm project a new $200-million-dollar luxury shopping center in Vernon Hills, IL. 

The mix of high-end apartments and a 272,242-square-foot shopping center at Milwaukee Avenue and Townline Road is promised to have a different feel and selections from the village's already expansive commercial offerings.

November 2017

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc. working for J. P. Cullen and Sons of Janesville, WI has been awarded two contracts for the remodel of the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison.  The remodel requires multiple shifts leveraging Absolute Fire’s extensive experience in occupied hospital work environments.   

May 23, 2017

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc., working for Riley Construction of Kenosha, Wi, is proud to announce the award of the fire protection systems for the major expansion of St. Catherine’s Medical Center campus in Pleasant Prairie for an advanced outpatient surgical wing. 

The Kenosha-based system received Pleasant Prairie Plan Commission approval to construct the four-story, 239,977-square-foot addition to the medical center at 9555 76th St.

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc. will design the project in-house using state-of-the-art BIM/CAD capabilities and install the multiyear project with its Rockford based Local 669 Union sprinkler fitters.

The award of this project continues the Absolute/Riley relationship in the healthcare sector which includes major expansions of the Zion IL Cancer Center of America campus and Abbott Labs.

February 15, 2017

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc. working for Winter Construction of Freeport, IL is proud to have been the fire sprinkler contractor for the recently completed Freeport City Hall project.  Engineering a new fire sprinkler system for an historic building was a real challenge and privilege.  Walking the very fine line between fire codes and historic aesthetics was a difficult task but in the end we achieved both. 

 A building that’s stood for nearly a century is now officially the new home of Freeport’s City Hall.  Renovations are now complete and staff is ready to move into the Carnegie Library in Freeport. Workers began renovating the building nearly nine months ago after the old city hall building was condemned due to structural concerns.  The City of Freeport chose to upgrade the historic library instead of building a new city hall building to save money, but Freeport Mayor Jim Gitz says he hopes the changes will last for decades.

February 10, 2017

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc., working for Bennett Construction and Thermo Fisher Scientific of Rockford, IL completes a highly specialized Foam Protection system using a FireDos proportioning pump with AFFF foam concentrate. 

The Absolute Fire Protection, Inc. designed/installed and FM Global approved system incorporates FireDos proportioners which work without external energy, and even under changing pressure conditions reliably and at a constant proportioning rate. Absolute Fire Protection, Inc. imported the FireDos equipment direct from the factory located in Frankfurt Germany.

The drive is provided completely by the extinguishing water flow. The water flows through the water motor, which is installed directly in the extinguishing water line. The extinguishing water flow is therefore available in full for fire-fighting. Without losses. The proportioning rate selected by the user always remains constant.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is a world leader in serving science, with revenues of $17 billion and approximately 50,000 employees in 50 countries. Their mission is to enable their customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. They help their customers accelerate life sciences research, solve complex analytical challenges, improve patient diagnostics and increase laboratory productivity.

THE LARGEST CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN ROCKFORD’S HISTORY!

December 15, 2016

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc. has been chosen by Mortenson Construction of Chicago to provide the highly specialized fire protection systems for Mercyhealth’s new specialty women’s and children’s hospital and multispecialty clinic building. We are excited to have been chosen to be the fire protection contractor for the largest construction project in Rockford’s history. 

The $485 million project is scheduled for substantial completion in January, 2019.  The multi-million-dollar fire protection contract will be designed with Absolute Fire Protection’s in-house Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology design specialists and installed by our Rockford, IL based Local Union 669 sprinkler fitters.

The project is scheduled to simultaneously build a seven-story, 451,000 square foot hospital and a five-story, 81,500 square foot clinic.  The systems will include 6000+ fire sprinklers, fire pumps, standpipe hose systems, pre-action systems and Green building FM200 gas systems.

Absolute Fire Protection is very proud to be part of Mercyhealth’s major investment in important health services.  Mercyhealth has set an ambitious building schedule, so the project will be employing a range of innovative construction technologies and techniques, including prefabrication.

December 12, 2016

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc. is happy to add several new contracts associated with the Fiat Chrysler $350 million investment in the Belvidere Chrysler Assembly plant for the company’s retooling for the Jeep Cherokee production.

Working for Alberici Global Automotive of St. Louis, MO and Industrial Contracting Corporation of LaVergne TN, the contracts will include a very tight schedule working multiple shifts around the clock. 

The announcement "sounds extremely significant," Boone County Administrator Ken Terrinoni said, and it's "most appreciated having that kind of investment in the community."  Fiat Chrysler says the 5 million-square-foot Belvidere plant employs 4,500 people.

The auto assembly plant is a regional economic powerhouse.  Absolute Fire Protection, Inc. has previously announced its award of contracts for regional facilities which will supply the Belvidere plant with components.

Jimsi Kuborn, vice president of investor relations for the Rockford Area Economic Development Council, said every $1 million in output at the plant results in $322,000 output by other industries in the region

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc. anticipates this work to be complete in 1Q2017.

October 6, 2016

UPDATE on our multi-year fire sprinkler project for the New Trier High School expansion working for Pepper Construction.  The Million Dollar plus contract is on schedule and in budget, WOW is it a really nice facility, see our slideshow of recent pictures below. 

Lead designer Shane Banta and site Foreman Mark Schmidt have done a fantastic job on the design and install, GOOD JOB GUYS!

July 27, 2016

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc. is excited to announce that it has been awarded the fire sprinkler work for the new Chrysler Fiat Process Center Offices at the Belvidere Assembly Plant and will be working for Walbridge Industrial Process LLC. 

The project, with very tight scheduling demands, consists of office remodeling, the construction of new mezzanines all requiring specially designed fire sprinkler systems.  All systems are designed in accordance with stringent plant and insurance guidelines.

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc. has a long and successful working association at the Belvidere Assembly Plant and looks forward to this new challenge.  We will design all the fire protection systems in-house and install the systems with our Rockford based Local 669 sprinkler fitters.  We are proud to have been selected to perform this work and can apply our years of experience working in highly challenging environments. 

July 15, 2016 

With great anticipation the full foam test day arrived for the new Chicago Rockford International Airport’s new MRO facility.  There were two wildly successful tests, one for each hangar bay.   Each hangar bay is 100,000 square feet with a roof height of over 10 stories. 

Test parameters allowed three minutes to flow foam to a depth of three feet over the entire hangar floor space.  Hangar one accomplished this in 1:45 minutes and Hangar two in 2:01 minutes.  The second test was attended by local authorities, investors, participating craftsmen and the public.  All televisions station and print media were in attendance.   

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc. is proud of its entire team who seemed to be reinventing the wheel at every turn but in the end got the job done on time and in budget.

June 23, 2016

Adding to our twelve month $2,000,000.00 portfolio of EARLY SUPPRESSION FAST RESPONCE (ESFR) projects we are proud to announce the awards of Fox River West Two located in Elgin, IL and HPC1 Spec Warehouse located in Janesville, WI. 

Fox River West Two for Northern Builders consists of 3,300 ESFR sprinklers and 8 systems and HPC1 Spec Warehouse for Hendricks’s Properties consists of 1,200 ESFR sprinklers and 4 systems are scheduled to be complete by the end of the year.  All will be or have been designed by Absolute’s in-house design group and installed by our local union fitters.

Kent Sester, Project Forman, left, and Phillip Clausen, Project Designer standing next to one of thirty Ansul brand foam generators at the Chicago Rockford International Airport MRO Hangar. The generators will be suspended about 100’-0” above the hangar floor.

Absolute Fire Protection continues to install the highly specialized foam water fire protection systems.  The multi-million dollar contract is tracking both on time and in budget.

December 29, 2015

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc., competing in a public bid opening, has been awarded the fire protection contract for the mammoth commercial and cargo jet repair and maintenance center being built at the Chicago Rockford International Airport.   

Airport Director Mike Dunn said the project will be a $40 million, 200,000-square-foot maintenance, repair and overhaul facility — commonly called an MRO — to be leased by Wood Dale-based AAR Corp. the largest MRO operator in North America.

The fire protection contract, nearly $2 million dollars, includes highly specialized foam systems, multiple diesel fire pumps-both primary and backup, deluge systems and annex sprinklers.  Absolute Fire Protection will design and install these systems in-house; the project is scheduled for a 3Q2016 completion. 

It’s an economic development win that’s been years in the making and wouldn’t have been possible without Rock Valley College’s decision this year to build a larger aviation training center at the airport and triple the number of its students who graduate each year as FAA-certified aviation mechanics.  Absolute Fire Protection, Inc was also the fire protection contractor for the RVC aviation training center.

May 16, 2015

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc., working for Riley Construction of Kenosha WI has been awarded the fire sprinkler contract for the major expansion to Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Zion, IL.  

Phase I includes major upgrades to the central plant and utilities to accommodate a new 168,000 SF, 6-story Patient Tower; 307,000 SF, 5-story parking structure; 2-story vertical addition of the existing Surgery Center; and 3-story vertical addition of the existing Medical Office building.   

The fire protection contract will include quick response fire sprinklers throughout, special hazards system as well state-of-the-art FM 200 systems.  This multiyear project is expected to be complete in 2017.

March 16, 2015

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc., working for Hoosier Energy of Bloomington, Ind. has been awarded a nearly $1,000,000 fire sprinkler contract for a new methane gas conversion plant at Orchard Hills Landfill in Davis Junction, IL.

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc. will serve as a prime contractor in charge of the specialized fire sprinkler systems.  Pre-Action systems will be installed with an alarm and detection system designed and installed by Simplex Grinnell.  Also provided is a 350,000 gallon fire water storage tank, 100 horse power electric fire pumps and fire pump housing.   

The construction permit from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is for a $37 million, 19-megawatt power plant.

Hoosier would buy Orchard Hills methane from Veolia Environmental Services for the plant being built adjacent to Veolia’s landfill, one of the nation’s largest, near Illinois 251.  The project is expected to be complete by the end of 2015.

March 11, 2015

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc., working for Sjostrom Construction has been awarded the fire sprinkler contract for the Greater Rockford Airport Authority (GRAA) and Rock Valley College (RVC) new RVC Aviation Maintenance Technology Program facility.  The 40,000-square-foot state-of-the-art building will be on the Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) grounds. The facility will house the RVC educational course of study for aeronautical maintenance and repair and will allow RVC to expand and enhance its current program.    

The fire protection contract will include high hazard fire sprinklers throughout, special hazards system, a new fire pump and hose stations.  This project is expected to be complete fall 2015.

June 23^, 2014

Absolute Fire Protection’s UA STAR certified inspection crews conduct a Fire Pump test in accordance with NFPA 25 code and standards.

Cody Fowler, Absolute Fire Protection’s Service Manager preforms this annual fire pump test at Mondelez International.  So as to not interfere with plant production we worked first shift Saturday.  35,000 gallons will flow during this test.

April 18, 2014

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc., working for Schmeling Construction Co. has been awarded the contract for Rockford University Student Housing fire sprinkler retrofit program.  The fire protection program will consist of retrofitting the Universities student housing buildings with a new fire sprinkler system.  Quick response fire sprinklers using CPVC pipe and fittings will be installed.  The project has a very aggressive schedule so as to be complete for the fall 2014 semester. 

March 12, 2014

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc., working for Mechanical Incorporated of Freeport, IL has been awarded the contract for the new Emsur Inc label plant in Elk Grove Village, IL.  The Fire protection systems will consist of multi Special Hazards systems including AFFF Foam, CO2, FM200 gas as well as a  fire pump retrofit, systems upgrade and in-rack sprinklers.  The project should be complete by year end. 

EMSUR is a group company dedicated to the production of flexible packaging primarily for the food industry. The business began in 1990 in Alcalá de Henares (Madrid), and at present, they have 6 production plants throughout Spain, Mexico, Poland, Argentina and France, as well as 7 sales offices. 

January 14, 2014

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc. has been awarded the RP Lumber project in Ottawa, IL.  The job consists of transforming the existing sprinkler systems in a former K-Mart store to a suitable density to protect lumber storage as well as converting the system from wet systems to dry.  The majority of the existing systems will be scrapped and the 100,000 square foot building will receive new high-density systems.  R.P. Lumber was founded by Robert L. Plummer in January, 1977, in Staunton, IL. Since then, they have grown rapidly. They now have 51 lumberyards and a truss plant, spread throughout Illinois and Missouri.

December 12, 2013

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc. has been awarded the fire sprinkler contract for the Collider Detector project at Fermilab National Laboratory. The highly specialized fire protection project will protect the Laboratory’s buildings and the world’s highest energy proton-antiproton collider which is an experimental collaboration committed to studying high energy particle collisions.  The Lab’s goal is to discover the identity and properties of the particles that make up the universe and to understand the forces and interactions between those particles.

Working for Carl Anderson Construction Services it is expected to begin construction on the facility in the coming weeks and be complete by March 2014.  This project is one of many that we have participated in at the Fermilab site.

December 2, 2013

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc. has been awarded the fire sprinkler contract for the new Packaging Coordinators Inc., formerly Anderson Packaging, clinical packaging facility.

PCI will build near two other Absolute Fire Protection, Inc projects: B/E Aerospace and solar panel manufacturer Wang Xiang all located in the Logistics Industrial Park.

Working for Cord Construction it is expected to break ground on the 85,000-square-foot facility in the coming weeks and be complete by August 2014.

August 19, 2013

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc., working for Pepper Construction, has been awarded the fire sprinkler contract for the Grand Victoria Casino facility remodeling and renovation.  The highly detailed 15-phase project will require perfect timing and coordination to achieve the highest results for the owner.  The fire sprinkler contract will include revamping the existing systems to accommodate the new ceiling work, the installation of a temporary system to protect the casino during construction and the conversion to a permanent system when new ceilings are installed.  The project is expected to be complete by year end 2013.

May 6, 2013

Absolute Fire Protection, after a review of skill sets and experience, has been awarded the fire sprinkler contract for the retrofit of the historic Egyptian Theatre in DeKalb, IL.

The retrofit will entail the use of specialized BIM and CAD engineering to insure the historic features of the building are not impacted.  Special care will be taken to work with the architectural plaster features using specially colored sprinkler plates.  Included are both wet and dry systems with hose standpipes for the stage area.  In addition to the inherent difficulties of a project of this magnitude is a compressed schedule to fit the theater’s performance scheduling.  The project is scheduled to be complete third quarter 2013.

April 8, 2013

Absolute Fire Protection, competing in a public bid process, has been awarded the fire sprinkler contract for the new John F. Kennedy School in Spring Valley, IL.

Cost of the construction is estimated at $17 million with about $12 million coming from state funding.  “It’s an exciting time watching the project develop,” superintendent Jim Hermes said.  The goal is to have the building completed and ready to occupy by Friday, July 18, 2014.

The new building would have a north educational wing and a south wing that holds the gym, music departments, cafeteria and other more public areas. Also, the addition will be more energy efficient with a geothermal heating and cooling system, LED lights and more natural lighting.

December 10, 2012

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc., working for Cord Construction Co., has been awarded the fire protection contract for the new addition to Ring Container Corp. in Kankakee, IL.  The 65,000 square foot addition will include multiple fire sprinkler system extensions and a rework of the existing systems.  Located in Kankakee, IL the systems will be installed with Rockford IL based Local 669 sprinkler fitters.  The work is scheduled to be complete in 1Q2013.

November 12, 2012

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc., working for DeKalb based Irving Construction, has been awarded the fire protection contract for the new DeKalb Police Station.  The facility, which will house the Emergency Operations Command Center, will include several different highly specialized fire protection systems including a double interlock pre-action sprinkler system and a state-of-the-art FM200 gas system with “sniffer” detection.  The new police station will be approximately 35,000 feet and will open by November 2013. Utility work, including the construction of sewer, power and water lines, has already begun. The new building will allow juveniles and adults to be processed in different areas amongst other improvements.  The architect of record is PS Dewburry.

October 2, 2012

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc., having competed in a public bid opening, has been awarded the contract for the fire sprinkler system for the new Oakton Community College’s $39 million Science and Health Careers Center.  The 93,000-square-foot building, scheduled for completion in 2014, will launch the College’s $68.5 million five-year Facilities Master Plan, approved by the Board of Trustees in December 2010.

The new facility meets contemporary and emerging science and health career educational standards, and will house the College’s anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry, earth science, medical laboratory technology, nursing, physics, and physical therapy assistant programs. Located on the northeast side of the existing campus, it will feature sophisticated labs; flexible, light-filled classrooms; enhanced technology; and abundant lab preparation and storage space.

Other components of the Facilities Master Plan include an enrollment center that will integrate admission, advising and counseling, financial aid, registration, and records functions; a student gathering center; classroom upgrades; and a range of infrastructure improvements.

Turner Construction, the leading general builder in the United States and the Chicago area, will serve as construction manager for the building.

September 12, 2012

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc. working for Rockford Structures Construction Company, has been awarded the fire sprinkler contract for the new 80,000 square foot addition to Snak King Corporation, formerly C.J. Vitner Co., located in Freeport IL.  The contract includes new ESFR sprinkler systems, a new fire pump and existing building remodeling.  The project is fast-track and is expected to be complete by the first quarter 2013.  Absolute Fire Protection will design the systems in-house and utilize Local 669 Sprinkler Fitters for the installation. 

Earlier this year Freeport chip maker C.J. Vitner Co. was been sold to Snak King Corp., which is based in Los Angeles.

August 10, 2012

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc. working for Stenstrom Construction has been awarded the fire sprinkler contract for the new Rockford Orthopedic Associates Riverside Pavilion.  A limited liability corporation set up by Rockford Orthopedic Associates bought the Riverside Pavilion shopping center at East Riverside Boulevard and North Mulford Road.  The project will involve a major reconfiguration of the existing sprinkler system to convert it from an exposed pipe retail system to a concealed pipe medical facility system.

ROA Riverside Development LLC paid $2.4 million to an entity set up by Kentucky-based Paul Hemmer Co. for the 87,000-square-foot shopping center. Lynne Pratt, marketing and communications manager said the medical clinic will convert 57,000 square feet into a clinic scheduled to open next spring.

June 20, 2012

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc., working for Venture Development Inc., has been awarded the fire sprinkler system contract for the new Goodwill Industries of Metropolitan Chicago retail and donation center in Lemont, Illinois.  With this Lemont location this makes the seventh Goodwill center Absolute Fire Protection, Inc. has installed.

The 21,000-square-foot store is tentatively scheduled to open in mid-August in the former Sears Appliance and Hardware location at 1146 State St., said Cheryl Lightholder, spokesperson for Goodwill.

"We're very excited to open a new store in Lemont, and continue our growth plan in the Chicago area," Lightholder said.

Goodwill stores sell previously donated items such as clothing, kitchen accessories and more. According to Lightholder, the garden center in the former Sears will be turned into a donation center for residents to drop off used items.

Goodwill currently has 46 stores—26 in Illinois and 20 in Wisconsin. Lightholder said she is confident the Lemont location will be "a great addition" to the growing company. 

Goodwill's announcement comes just six months after the Lemont Sears closed in November. The store had been open since 1996.

March 19, 2012

February 27, 2012

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc. working for Riley Construction of Lake Bluff, IL, has been awarded the contract for the fire sprinkler system for the new Carol Stream Recreational Center.  The 90,846 square foot, LEED-certified recreation center at Carol Stream Recreational Center will feature a 25 yard indoor swimming pool, three basketball courts, and program rooms on the first floor; and a fitness center, fitness program rooms and a running track on the second floor.  Construction for the new $18m center is expected to take 16-18 months. 

The award of the Carol Stream Recreational Center adds to a long list of sporting facilities Absolute Fire Protection has recently completed such as the Randall Oaks Rec Center, West Dundee, IL; the Falcon Parn Rec Center, Palatine, IL; the Premier Fitness Center Rockford, IL and the Ackerman Sports Complex, Glen Ellyn, IL.

December 8, 2012

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc., working for Cord Construction Co., has been awarded the fire sprinkler contract for the new B/E Aerospace, Inc., manufacturing facility.  B/E Aerospace, Inc. with $2 billion in revenues will invest in a new building for its Rockford operations. It will be in Logistics Park, directly east of Chicago Rockford International Airport. 

Absolute Fire Protection’s award of the B/E Aerospace, Inc. manufacturing facility continues the string of Chicago Rockford International Airport site projects that we have completed in recent years; projects include the Wanxiang America Corp and the Chicago-Rockford Air Cargo Warehouse I.
 

Absolute Fire Protection, Inc., working for Winter Construction, has been awarded the Freeport Health Network Leonard C. Ferguson Cancer Center addition and remodel project.  With the support of the FHN Foundation and its Be Cancer Free campaign, FHN is expanding the medical oncology wing of the FHN Leonard C. Ferguson Cancer Center. This construction is expected to last through the beginning of March 2012. 

The expansion will allow for more treatment rooms to be able to assist the many patients that come through their doors.  The expansion will include eight more treatment stations and room to spare for future expansion. It is the second phase of a multi-year project at this cancer center.

May 01, 2007