Public Works Facility In Harrisonburg, Virginia
When the City of Harrisonburg upgraded its Public Works facility, Blauch Brothers handled the full mechanical scope, including HVAC, plumbing, and piping. Working alongside general contractor Harman Construction, Blauch Brothers came in early to design the mechanical systems in-house.
A Design-Build Process That Started in the Room Together
Due to the pace of construction, often times the design is not 100% complete prior to beginning construction, which can leave gaps between what was drawn and what gets built in the field. On this project, we worked directly alongside Harman during the design phase to develop the mechanical systems in-house as a unified team. That early collaboration allowed us to engineer a scope that was precise, buildable, and optimized before a single component was ordered.
With a project value of $1.2 million and a brand-new facility as the canvas, expectations were high across the board. To support that level of coordination, our team leveraged Building Information Modeling (BIM) to spatially coordinate systems before installation began, reducing field conflicts and keeping the project on schedule from the start.
Engineered for Air Quality and Energy Recovery
A core part of the mechanical scope was a traditional ducted HVAC system paired with Dedicated Outdoor Air Units (DOAUs). In a high-use public facility, indoor air quality is not a secondary consideration. It is a performance requirement. DOAUs address that directly by bringing in a controlled supply of fresh outdoor air while simultaneously recovering energy from the exhaust stream before it leaves the building. As air is pushed out, the system captures that thermal energy and uses it to condition the incoming air, reducing the load on the HVAC equipment and cutting long-term operating costs without any compromise to air quality.
Zone-Level Comfort with Variable Refrigerant Flow
To give the facility precise control over comfort in every space, we installed a Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) system throughout the building. Unlike a conventional HVAC system where a single large unit conditions an entire floor or zone, VRF technology allows each room to adjust its own temperature independently. Smaller, dedicated units respond to the specific demand of each space, which means the system is never working harder than it needs to.
For a public works facility with varying occupancy patterns and a range of distinct space types, that level of individual control translates directly into energy savings, occupant comfort, and a system that performs the way it was designed to over the long haul.
Ready to Serve Harrisonburg, Virginia
The Harrisonburg, Virginia, Public Works facility now operates with mechanical systems that were designed collaboratively, coordinated precisely, and installed with the craftsmanship Blauch Brothers has built its reputation on since 1954. From the early design conversations to the final installation, this project reflects what it looks like when the right team is in the room from the beginning.
Whether it is a municipal facility in the Shenandoah Valley or a commercial or industrial project across Central Virginia, Blauch Brothers delivers mechanical contracting solutions built with strong partnerships and craftsmanship that lasts.
