St Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Case Study: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Location: Memphis, TN

Project Size: 606,600 sq. ft. | 16 stories

Contractor: Flintco, LLC

Scope: Wet Pipe, Preaction, and Dry Systems

Project Value: ~$4.5M

Life-Saving Fire Protection for a Life-Saving Facility

When St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital expanded its campus with a state-of-the-art, high-rise tower, they needed a fire protection partner who could deliver precision, speed, and excellence. Ironsmith Fire was honored to answer the call—because protecting those who save lives is a mission we don’t take lightly.

The Challenge

– Aggressive Deadlines: A demanding schedule required maximum efficiency.

– Complex Coordination: Multiple trades working simultaneously on a tight site.

– Missing Infrastructure: A critical water supply connection was delayed.

Our Solution

– 2-Person BIM Approach: We streamlined coordination and cut modeling time by having one BIM Coordinator and one BIM Designer own the full layout process.

– Rapid Field Adaptation: When a water main was missing, our team sourced materials and installed 60 feet of pipe in under 24 hours to keep the project on track.

– Collaboration in Action: We solved MEP clashes in real-time, updated models on the fly, and worked shoulder-to-shoulder with other trades to maintain momentum.

Scope of Work

– Wet Systems: 16 wet pipe sprinkler systems across finished and shell floors

– Dry System: Installed in the unconditioned Service Dock

– Preaction System: Double interlock system in the Server Room

– 3D BIM Design: Fully modeled in Revit and field-verified with augmented reality and robotic layout tools

Results

– Zero Safety Incidents

– 100% Inspection Compliance

– Ahead of Schedule Execution

– Strong Trade Partner Feedback

“We’re not just installing a system—we’re protecting a facility that’s saving lives. Knowing our work brings peace of mind to cancer patients and their families—that’s what helps us sleep at night.”

Tools & Technology

– Trimble Robotic Total Station

– Augmented Reality Design Walkthroughs

– Daily Planning Meetings & Weekly Trade Coordination

– Self-Retracting Lifelines, Full PPE, and ANSI Z359 Compliance

What They Said

“Ironsmith has been a great trade partner—collaborative, flexible, and always focused on the solution.”

— General Contractor Superintendent

“They lead by example. One of the top safety performers I’ve worked with.”

— EHS Lead

Why Ironsmith Fire?

With over 70 years of leadership experience and a field-tested team, we don’t just install fire protection—we deliver peace of mind, even under pressure.