Acoustical smoke vents preserve historic Illinois school's design

Rock Island High School, opened in 1937, has upgraded its aging smoke vent with a modern BILCO acoustical unit, balancing historic preservation and fire safety. The old 'doghouse' vent, likely from the 1950s, had developed leaks. RTM Engineering Consultants removed it piece by piece to protect the roof. BILCO's acoustical vents offer industry-leading sound ratings (OITC-46, STC-50), crucial for the school's stage performances. The project involved Crawford Company as contractor and McCoy and Associates as manufacturer's rep. The upgrade addresses fire risks in pre-modern-code buildings; U.S. fire departments responded to 4,150 school structure fires in 2023. Rock Island survived a 1949 blaze requiring reconstruction.