Johnson Controls officially opened the state-of-the-art Rooftop Center of Excellence design, manufacturing and testing facility during a grand opening event on April 17. The facility has been located in Norman, OK for nearly 50 years and will now serve as the flagship location for industry research, manufacturing and testing of Johnson Controls HVAC rooftop units. The 900,000-square-foot facility includes almost 400,000 square-feet of incremental laboratory and manufacturing space and renovations to over 150,000 square-feet of office and meeting space.

“Investing in the future of rooftop unit innovation in design and manufacturing is an investment in our customers,” said Steve Maddox, vice president of engineering, commercial ducted systems, Johnson Controls. “The expertise of the people leading this facility increases our speed to market, provides unmatched quality assurance and supports the development of industry-leading, energy efficient technology.

The plant includes a two-story, 52-foot high testing lab roughly the size of one-and-a-half football fields. The extensive laboratory offers an environment that allows Johnson Controls to conduct on-site, complex development, regulatory compliance, performance, safety, and reliability testing including the ability to test a 150 ton rooftop unit in climates ranging from -30ºF to 130ºF.

“The need for high-efficiency rooftop units has grown as customers demand simplified solutions to achieving sustainability,” said Philip Smyth, director of product management, applied DX, Johnson Controls. “The combined testing and manufacturing location allows us to better serve our customers while enhancing HVAC technology through collaboration and innovation.