We’re proud to share that Ryan Fireprotection was honored at the 2025 Coalition for Construction Safety (CCS) Awards with the Outstanding Project Safety Award for our work on the Lineage Logistics expansion project in Hobart, Indiana.
This recognition reflects what we strive for on every project: thoughtful planning, consistent communication, and a safety-first mindset at every stage of the work.
Project Overview: A Demanding and High-Impact Build
The Lineage facility expansion was a technically complex project that required the construction of a fully automated cold storage warehouse spanning over 188,000 square feet. The upgraded site now features 76 dock doors, nearly 100,000 pallet positions, and advanced robotic systems that actively streamline logistics operations. Consequently, this facility represents a significant enhancement to Lineage’s Velocities Multi-Vendor Consolidation program, which is designed to boost efficiency for retail and foodservice customers throughout North America.
Ryan Fireprotection led the design and installation of the fire protection systems in a setting with substantial aerial and environmental challenges. During the construction process, our crews regularly worked at heights reaching up to 147 feet, contending with high winds and open structural framing. We prioritized safety from the outset by relying on seasoned field personnel and implementing a proactive risk mitigation strategy from day one.
Safety Built Into Every Step
Even before mobilization, we brought the full project team together for collaborative design and planning meetings. These sessions allowed us to identify high-risk tasks early and begin building a plan that minimized or eliminated those hazards altogether. In turn, that process led to the development of a site-specific safety plan and fall protection plan, both tailored to the evolving construction sequence.
To support these plans, we leaned heavily on our field team’s experience to refine our methods and streamline installation to make the work safer and more efficient. That included strategies like prefabricating materials off-site, using a pulley system for lifting instead of repeated trips up and down 140 feet, and modifying pipe lengths and connections to reduce manual handling mid-air.
Another standout feature was our installation of the ModuLaser early smoke detection system, which uses multi-level vacuum sampling and laser analysis to detect smoke particles at various heights. Notably, this kind of technology is suited to large-volume spaces like cold storage warehouses, where traditional detection systems may not provide adequate early warning.
Installing the ModuLaser system came with its own challenges. Our team ran vertical sampling pipes from ground level to roof height, which required careful coordination in boom lifts and secure positioning on scaffold planks placed on open racking. Despite the difficulty, the work was physically demanding and technically exacting, but it was completed without incident thanks to the crew’s focus and training.
Measurable Results, Meaningful Recognition
Throughout the Lineage project, our team worked over 17,000 hours without a single recordable incident, achieving a perfect safety record on one of the most complex builds we’ve ever supported.
Alongside the project recognition, two team members—Tom Goetz and Jordan Wilson—earned the Outstanding Craftsperson Award. Their leadership, trade expertise, and daily commitment to crew safety played a key role in the project’s success.
We’re grateful to CCS for recognizing the work that goes into building not just safely, but intentionally. And we’re proud of the entire Ryan Fireprotection team for the professionalism, collaboration, and care they brought to this project.
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