Case Study: United Medical Center improves occupant comfort and reduces emergency calls with Southland Industries

UMC lowers emergency service calls with Southland after replacing 35 VAV boxes

Southland Industries was selected by United Medical Center (UMC) for a complex retrofit of a critical 40+ year-old air-handling unit (AHU) serving its healthcare facility in Washington, D.C. The challenge was to redesign and replace the outdated HVAC system for critical spaces like special procedures and CT scan areas while the active hospital remained fully operational, minimizing impact on patients and daily routines.

Southland Industries executed a design-build solution that involved breaking the new AHU into 18 pieces for delivery and installing it via the hospital's freight elevator. The vendor also replaced 35 dual duct VAV boxes and integrated new Distech BACnet controls into the existing building automation system. This proactive approach resulted in significantly improved occupant comfort and a drastic reduction in emergency service calls over the following year.

UMC