Union Theological Seminary’s campus in Morningside Heights houses classrooms and residences, as well as rare books and archival materials that are highly sensitive to temperature and humidity. To better protect these collections, improve comfort for students and staff, and support long-term energy performance, ELECSYS provided mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) engineering services for an HVAC optimization and humidity-control upgrade program at 3041 Broadway in Manhattan.

ELECSYS translated a conceptual energy-services design into coordinated, permit-ready construction documents that were implemented efficiently in an active, historic academic environment. The work began with detailed field surveys of existing equipment, piping, and air handling units to document real-world constraints in mechanical rooms and distribution spaces and to inform demolition and tie-in strategies.

A major focus was refurbishing and upgrading air handling units to improve dehumidification and provide tighter temperature and humidity control in climate-critical spaces, especially areas dedicated to archives and sensitive collections. The scope included new high-efficiency fan motors and variable-frequency drives, upgraded chilled-water and hot-water coils, replacement reheat coils, and new dampers and control valves.

The project also improved ventilation and comfort in office areas on the 6th through 8th floors of the Brown Tower by routing new ductwork from existing variable-air-volume boxes and decommissioning the legacy steam system serving those spaces, supporting both comfort and long-term decarbonization goals.

Humidity control was modernized by replacing existing humidifiers with new electric duct-mounted units, along with new domestic-water connections, controls, sensors, and updated sequences of operation. ELECSYS also designed the associated electrical connections and load calculations and prepared NYC Department of Buildings permitting and self-certification documentation.