SU Winding Ridge Net-Zero Energy Retro-Fit

Quality Mechanical Services (QMS) was selected to provide the HVAC package for Syracuse University’s Winding Ridge NYSERDA Net Zero Housing Project, an innovative residential sustainability initiative focused on reducing energy consumption, improving indoor air quality, and advancing high-performance building technologies. Developed in partnership with Syracuse University, Northland Associates, Ashley McGraw Architects, Taitem Engineering, and NYSERDA, the project serves as a model for energy-efficient multifamily housing and sustainable building design. QMS furnished and installed complete HVAC upgrades throughout the facility, including high-efficiency Daikin heat pump systems, twenty-four in-wall heat recovery ventilation (HRV) units, occupancy-based exhaust fan controls, mechanical room exhaust systems, thermostatic control upgrades, and associated mechanical infrastructure. The project also included coordination with building automation systems, commissioning requirements, and integration of advanced ventilation technologies designed to improve occupant comfort while minimizing energy use. As part of this groundbreaking sustainability effort, QMS worked closely with Syracuse University researchers, faculty, and project stakeholders to support the building’s Net Zero and LEED Zero performance goals. The project required extensive coordination, field integration, and collaboration to ensure all mechanical systems contributed to the building’s long-term energy efficiency objectives and research initiatives. A unique aspect of the project was QMS’s partnership with Daikin and Modular Comfort to support the development’s sustainability mission through donated equipment and installation contributions. This collaboration helped advance innovative housing solutions while demonstrating the value of public-private partnerships in creating energy-efficient communities.