City University of New York Hostos Community College

Upgrading Electric Packaged Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Units with New Air Handling Systems

The building’s nine package units, equipped with electric heating coils and direct expansion (DX) cooling coils, were over 18 years old and frequently required repairs due to its surpassed lifecycle.

Our engineering team provided MEP services to replace the outdated units with new air handling systems that connect to the adjacent Allied Health Building’s central cooling and heating plant.

To minimize the impact to the college, our engineering team determined that the most efficient way to bring in the new units was through the louver opening along the outside of the building.

Hostos Community College is a six-story facility, spanning approximately 89,610 square feet and includes a variety of academic spaces.

Owner: City University of New York
Location: New York, NY
Services: Engineering
Markets: Education

Square Footage: 89,610-square-foot facility
Cost: $22 Million
Completed: 2022
Region: Northeast

Originally built in 1925 in the Bronx, New York, the City University of New York (CUNY) Hostos Community College is a six-story, 89,610-square-foot facility that includes a variety of academic spaces. The building has faced significant architectural and mechanical challenges since 1972. The nine package units, equipped with electric heating coils and direct expansion (DX) cooling coils, were over 18 years old and frequently required repairs due to surpassing their useful life cycle.

Our team served as the lead engineer to provide mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) services. We replaced the outdated units with new air handling systems that connected these units into the adjacent Allied Health Building’s central cooling and heating plant, creating a more sustainable and dependable environment. Additionally, our efforts focused on minimizing the impact to the college by bringing in the new units through the louver opening along the outside of the building.

The new building management system allows staff to directly adjust the parameters of individual units for optimal ventilation, heating, and cooling throughout the building. With this system in place, maintenance is streamlined. Staff will receive notifications when filters need replacement or when other components require attention, allowing for proactive planning and minimizing downtime for repairs. This engineering upgrade also provides an enhanced indoor environment for students through improved air quality, filtration, humidity control, and ventilation.

story building

package units updated