Real NYC HVAC Projects
Every NYC building has its own HVAC challenges. Here are real projects we've completed across Manhattan and Brooklyn — from landmark loft conversions to hotel-wide system replacements.
SoHo Cast-Iron Loft — VRF Multi-Zone System
Cast-iron loft building, circa 1885
A creative agency occupied a 3,500 SF SoHo loft with 14-ft tin ceilings, original cast-iron columns, and aging steam radiators. No cooling existed. Window units were banned by the co-op. The open floor plan required multi-zone temperature control for different work areas.
Installed a 5-zone Mitsubishi City Multi VRF system with ceiling cassettes flush-mounted between tin ceiling panels. Condenser placed on rear building facade to avoid LPC visibility issues. Linesets routed through existing utility chases — no new wall penetrations on street-facing walls.
Year-round climate control with zone-by-zone temperature management. Energy bills dropped 40% vs. the old steam + window AC setup. $12,000 in Con Edison Clean Heat rebates applied to offset installation costs.
Midtown Office Tenant Fit-Out — 12,000 SF
Class A office tower, 35th floor
A financial services firm was building out a new 12,000 SF office floor. The building's central chilled water system provided base cooling, but the firm needed supplemental cooling for a 40-seat trading floor, two server rooms, and a conference center. Strict move-in deadline of 8 weeks.
Designed supplemental VRF system with dedicated cooling loops for the trading floor and server rooms. Installed 8 ceiling cassettes in open office areas and 4 ducted units for conference rooms. Server rooms received redundant split systems with high-temperature alerts.
Completed installation in 6 weeks — 2 weeks ahead of deadline. Trading floor maintains 68°F even at full occupancy. Server rooms hold 65°F with automatic failover. Building management praised the clean integration with their existing BMS.
West Village Restaurant — Kitchen Exhaust & Dining Room
Mixed-use townhouse, ground floor
A new farm-to-table restaurant opening in a West Village townhouse needed a complete kitchen exhaust system, make-up air unit, and dining room climate control. The narrow building had limited rooftop access and the residential tenants above had noise concerns.
Installed a Type I kitchen exhaust hood with a low-profile rooftop exhaust fan (50 dBA at property line). Make-up air unit provides balanced ventilation. Dining room uses 3-zone ceiling cassettes with ultra-quiet indoor units rated under 23 dBA.
Passed NYC DOH ventilation inspection on first attempt. Dining room maintains 72°F even during peak kitchen hours. Zero noise complaints from upstairs residents. Restaurant opened on schedule.
Williamsburg Warehouse — Loft Conversion HVAC
Converted warehouse, 6 units
A developer converted a Williamsburg warehouse into 6 luxury loft apartments. Each unit featured 16-ft ceilings, exposed brick, and floor-to-ceiling windows. The building had no existing HVAC infrastructure. Each unit needed individual climate control with separate metering.
Designed individual Mitsubishi multi-zone systems for each unit — 2-3 zones per apartment depending on layout. Slim-duct concealed units used in bedrooms for silent operation. Living areas received ceiling cassettes for even distribution across the tall ceiling spaces. All condensers consolidated on the roof with individual refrigerant circuits.
All 6 units sold within 3 months of completion. Buyers cited the modern HVAC as a key selling point vs. comparable conversions with window units. Developer has contracted Vinco for their next two Williamsburg projects.
Boutique Hotel — PTAC to VRF Conversion
60-room boutique hotel
A boutique hotel with 60 guest rooms suffered from noisy, inefficient PTAC units that generated constant guest complaints. TripAdvisor reviews specifically mentioned loud HVAC noise. The hotel couldn't afford to take all rooms offline simultaneously.
Designed a phased VRF conversion — 10 rooms per phase over 6 months. Each phase completed in 2 weeks. During conversion, portable units provided temporary cooling for rooms under construction. New VRF indoor units operate at 19 dBA — virtually silent.
Guest complaints about noise dropped to zero. Energy costs decreased 35%. TripAdvisor rating improved from 3.8 to 4.4 stars within 6 months of completion. The hotel recovered the full investment in 3 years from energy savings and reduced refund requests.
Brooklyn Heights Co-op — Building-Wide Boiler Replacement
Pre-war co-op, 14 stories, 85 units
An 85-unit pre-war co-op's oil-fired boiler system was 30+ years old, failing regularly during winter, and facing increasing fuel costs. The building was also out of compliance with Local Law 97 emission caps. The co-op board needed a solution that would pass a shareholder vote.
Prepared a comprehensive board presentation with 3 options: boiler repair, gas conversion, and full electrification with VRF heat pumps. Board selected hybrid approach — new high-efficiency gas boiler for domestic hot water + VRF heat pumps for heating/cooling in common areas and available for individual unit opt-in.
Building achieved Local Law 97 compliance with 30% emission reduction in year one. Common area energy costs dropped 45%. 22 individual unit owners have opted to install VRF in their apartments. Con Edison Clean Heat incentives covered $180,000 of the project cost.
Your Building Could Be Next
Tell us about your building and HVAC challenge. We'll assess the situation and design the right solution.