June 23, 2021

Gil-Bar in the News: “HVAC Solutions are Crucial to NYC’s Most Ascendant Asset Classes Right Now”

The following article originally appeared in the March 2021 edition of Mann Report.

Over the past few years, four property types have been gaining steam with commercial real estate investors, especially in the Tri-State area, where commercial and residential were king before Covid-19. Now, the talk is largely about life sciences, healthcare, warehouses and fulfillment centers, and data centers. Recent research by leading brokerages shows that favorable supply and demand metrics for these assets are not abating. 

For instance, the supply of U.S commercial laboratory space has grown 12% this year to 95 million square feet, with another 11 million square feet under construction, according to CBRE, which says rents will continue to climb despite supply. In terms of data center space, about one-third of the 373.6MW under construction has already been leased, according to CBRE, a figure that reflects stronger preleasing for the asset compared to last year. Regarding healthcare facilities, total private construction spending for healthcare has been at its highest in over a decade, per FRED data. And the volume of investment into medical office buildings is settling into a higher equilibrium, according to JLL, which cites $13.4 billion invested in 2019, nearly double the $6.8 billion spent in 2012. Meanwhile, an October report by NAIOP predicts that by 2025, there will be enough demand to satisfy 1 billion square feet of additional industrial real estate state space.  

What isn’t necessarily discussed are the specifications necessary for these facilities to perform optimally, especially HVAC requirements. Consider the following:

Life Sciences 

Life-sciences properties require some of the most highly specialized HVAC systems, and the property types are enjoying a renaissance in New York City. Nationally, demand for buildings that can accommodate life sciences research continues to climb, bolstered by public and private funding. 

These buildings typically house research labs, creating distinct challenges in airflow and filtration that need to be addressed by a robust HVAC system. These labs operate by BSL (biosafety level) ratings mandated by the CDC for containment of bioagents. The structure of HVAC systems becomes more complex to answer higher biosafety levels. A project may need separate breathing air systems, air handling units, exhaust systems and decontamination systems. These systems need to be structured within the building as to ensure researchers and scientists have a fresh supply of air and are not inhaling dangerous chemicals and bioagents.

Healthcare facilities

For healthcare and medical facilities like hospitals, medical offices or nursing and rehabilitation centers, it’s crucial to keep air as clean as possible. Infectious agents can spread quickly between rooms and common areas. In addition to temperature control, HVAC systems implemented into healthcare facilities need to be able to offer infection and odor control. Optimizing these systems to be able to operate with resiliency in the face of a power outage is also crucial. For larger facilities, HVAC systems need to carefully account for the number of air changes and proper filtration, based upon the number and types of rooms that could be in use at any given time.

Data Centers and Warehouse/Fulfillment Centers 

Even before the Covid-19 pandemic highlighted our reliance on ecommerce, a crescendo of demand for industrial space was fueling speculative development and repositioning of fulfillment centers. 

Although data centers and fulfillment centers represent different types of industrial space, they have similar HVAC needs. Data centers, for instance, require an optimal humidity and temperature to ensure their server rooms don’t fritz. Specialized HVAC solutions for data centers include systems that pump refrigerant, chilled water or indirect air evaporation. Environmental sensors are exceptionally useful to a data center HVAC system for tracking humidity, air flow and temperature.

Likewise, fulfillment centers humidity and temperature levels to shelter goods from damage. In the case of centers that may employ robots or other automation technology, humidity and temperature is especially critical. Another consideration for these types of warehouses is whether they function for distribution and are trafficked by cargo trucks. In those cases, a DOAS system or OA/RA system can provides a dedicated supply of outdoor air and combat the threat of high carbon monoxide levels.

Covid-19 and digitization continue to drive the need for industrial and data center square-footage, many commercial and retail spaces are repositioning to meet these needs. But it will take more than a remodel or a white box solution to deliver an effective and strategic space; HVAC considerations are crucial, as they are for all development and construction plans.

See this article and other coverage at Mann Report here!

One Year Post-Covid, It’s Time to Reassess Your Long-Term HVAC Needs

After over one year of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, Gil-Bar continues to be the solution in the battle for greater indoor air quality (IAQ). Offering an array of products to provide a clean and safe return to offices and indoor dining, Gil-Bar is partnered with several U.S. manufacturers to bring us back to a “new normal” through a variety of applications.

Currently, Gil-Bar products include HealthWay portable units, bi-polar ionization technology, enVerid air cleaners, and High Intensity UV emitters.

Through ongoing research and lab reports, these manufacturers show their individual efficacy of disinfecting the air and reducing the spread of COVID-19, as well as other common contagions. Please reach out to Gil-Bar for information regarding stocked inventory on all your buildings’ IAQ needs as we begin recovering and reopening the New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware regions. Gil-Bar’s sales team is available for on-site and virtual space surveys offering turnkey solutions for all applications in the Northeast Market.

For Your Next Project, Look to Gil-Bar’s Unrivaled Manufacturing Relationships

Through 35 years of business in service of your HVAC needs, we’ve built an extensive repertoire of manufacturing partners, who enable us to answer the specialized equipment needs of diverse property types.

As you weigh options for your next HVAC project, look to our connections to ensure a timely and efficient completion with the most up-to-date hardware and technologies.

We’re sharing our full line of access to more than 40 manufacturers below to help make your decision process more convenient.

Don’t hesitate to contact your local Gil-Bar engineer for retrofitting or new installation work!

Gil-Bar in the News: HVAC Leader Lands Private Equity Deal in Latest Expansion move

This article first appeared in Real Estate Weekly on June 9, 2021.

New York-based HVAC leader Gil-Bar Industries has secured an investment from Intermediate Capital Group (ICG) as the company continues to expand its footprint in the northeast.

“We are very pleased to partner with ICG as we move into the next phase of Gil-Bar’s evolution,” said Joe Sbarra, founding Partner, Gil-Bar. “Having co-founded the business in 1986, I am proud of what we have accomplished to date. Gil-Bar is well-positioned for the future, and with ICG’s capital and experience, I am excited about what we can achieve together.”

Since inception 35 years ago, Gil-Bar has become the leading HVAC solutions provider in the New York metropolitan area. Last year, the company acquired GBS Limited as part of its wider initiative to grow the company’s reach into new markets by partnering with existing HVAC providers.

“We believe there are multiple avenues for Gil-Bar’s continued growth as we expand our service and solution offerings and build our footprint both organically and through acquisitions,” added Chris Bisaccia, partner, Gil-Bar. “We selected ICG as our partner because they share our vision for the future and have the resources and experience to help us succeed.”

“We are delighted to announce our investment in Gil-Bar,” said Uzair Dossani and Evan Eason, both Managing Directors at ICG. “Gil-Bar has the key hallmarks we look for in an investment opportunity: a market leader with an excellent management team and significant runway for growth. We are excited to partner with Joe Sbarra, Chris Bisaccia, Joe Cohen, Ken Corio, and the rest of the Gil-Bar team.”

ICG will work in partnership with Gil-Bar’s management team to support the firm’s growth initiatives. Financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.

See the article in its original form and read more Real Estate Weekly here!

September 12, 2020

Gil-Bar Industries Acquires GBS Limited

The Merger Will Further Gil-Bar’s Leading Ability to Update Buildings for Complex, Post-Covid-19 HVAC Needs

Gil-Bar Industries, New York’s leading HVAC design engineering firm and provider of complex HVAC solutions, has completed the acquisition of GBS Limited, expanding Gil-Bar’s footprint into the North and Central New Jersey regions. The expansion is the latest in a wider initiative to grow Gil-Bar’s reach into new markets by partnering with leading existing HVAC providers that share Gil-Bar’s culture of high-level expertise, complex service capabilities and uncompromising ethics and client service.

As part of the merger, Metro Air Products NJ, a Gil-Bar Industries affiliate, will join the GBS Limited team and Gil-Bar’s New Jersey operations as a single entity: Gil-Bar Solutions NJ. This will bring added breadth of engineered ductwork, air movement and specialty HVAC product solutions to the new organization and provide clients with an even deeper level of engineering insight paired with extensive local market expertise. The fully integrated service offering and an unmatched commitment to finding the best solutions for the most challenging projects in the state will enable Gil-Bar to deliver much-needed post-Covid-19 HVAC work to a range of buildings looking to upgrade and keep occupants and guests safe.

“We’ll be combining GBS’ leading market knowledge and local relationships with the depth and breadth of Gil-Bar’s extensive manufacturing partnerships and engineering experience,” says Chris Bisaccia, Partner, Gil-Bar Industries. “This is a win-win for our clients and our business both for this challenging time and for the long term. We look forward to helping clients across the region deliver on public safety needs through HVAC engineering solutions.”

Since its founding in 1986, Gil-Bar Industries has become the leading design engineer of HVAC solutions in the New York metropolitan area. The company offers integrated services from design consultation through specification, installation, certification, parts, and maintenance. Further, Gil-Bar prides itself on preserving a unique family culture that considers every customer to be part of the family. Gil-Bar delivers on more than 5,200 projects per year, with more than 85 percent of its business coming from repeat clients. The combined firm will field a team of more than 60 degreed sales engineers and leverage long-standing relationships with more than 40 of the world’s finest manufacturers, including major filtration, ionization and UV light technologies helping to combat the spread of Covid-19 and other pathogens.

“The merger is a natural move,” says Eric Mueller, former Principal of GBS and new CEO of Gil-Bar Solutions NJ. “Gil-Bar and GBS shared similar cultures and values, and this brings unparalleled market expertise together for our clients. The integrated service offering turns Gil-Bar into an even greater resource on both sides of the Hudson River.”

Former GBS Principal Greg Peifer will join the Gil-Bar as the Sales Manager of a new Gil-Bar office in Philadelphia. Peifer, a Philadelphia native with an engineering degree from Drexel University, will expand Gil-Bar’s expertise, integrated service offering and commitment to client success in the Pennsylvania region.

About Gil-Bar Industries

Founded in 1986, Gil-Bar has become the largest and most comprehensive provider of HVAC solutions in New York and New Jersey. Gil-Bar believes HVAC is about a lot more than just moving air. It’s about creating places where we can live our best lives and do our best work. It requires understanding the total indoor environmental experience and providing optimal thermal and acoustical comfort. And we know that doing so, efficiently and sustainably, is an ever- greater engineering challenge. We partner with building developers, architects, engineers and contractors to help design, install, problem-solve and service the right custom HVAC solution for every building. We do it with the largest and most experienced team of degreed application engineers in the industry.