New York’s Grand Hudson Yards

Manufacturer of Remotely Operated Airflow Balancing Dampers Earns It’s Place In Hudson Yards

Metropolitan Air Technology continues it’s climb to the top of the industry as it scores a big win with the largest real estate development in the history of the country.

Hudson Yards is the largest private real estate development in the history of the United States, with more than 18 million square feet of state-of-the-art commercial, residential and office space. As thousands of companies competed to take part in the project, Metropolitan Air Technology (MAT), based in Chicago, IL, won the attention of the consultants with their remotely operated airflow balancing dampers.

MAT’s dampers were selected because they offered the ability to remotely adjust airflow in inaccessible duct work, prevalent throughout the Hudson Yards structures. The dampers have been installed in notable buildings around the world, and have become the standard for engineers and contractors. Over 1800 dampers have already been installed to date at the Hudson Yards project, which is still in early construction phases.

Design-Friendly Airflow Control Solutions

As the architectural community continues to push the boundaries of design, more and more mechanical systems companies are being challenged to develop new products to accommodate the structures in which they are installed. MAT has led the way with their remotely operated airflow balancing dampers.

MAT’s dampers allow airflow adjustment inside air ducts, eliminating the need for access through large panels or breaking through hard finished ceilings. The ease of damper adjustment saves time on balancing and rebalancing. Many tenant spaces require rebalancing when repurposed for a new use. The manual dampers, used in the Hudson Yards project, are controlled by rotary actuation cables that are routed inside the airstream and adjusted at the face of the air outlet.

The company also offers manual dampers designed for access points in a wall or ceiling. The rotary adjustment cable is routed outside the ductwork to ceiling or wall surface terminations as small as 25mm in diameter.

When longer runs are desired, MAT offers a battery-powered product line with wire lengths up to 1000 ft. Wire can be easily routed inside the airstream to an air outlet, outside the airstream to a wall, or even to a central control room – avoiding visible termination points in common areas altogether. Snap fit wiring connections easily fit into ceiling or wall surface terminations and eliminate the need for any wire crimping. Dampers ship fully assembled, requiring only three simple steps for installation.

“The dampers are a simple solution to fix a problem that has plagued architects and contractors for years. Every surface – floors, walls and ceilings – in all of the buildings were intricately detailed. Installing MAT’s remotely operated balancing dampers preserved the designer’s intent by eliminating the need for unsightly access panels in the ceiling.”

 Sustainability-Friendly

The Hudson Yards project, like many projects in this next era of architecture, is designed with an emphasis on sustainable design.

MAT, a member of the U.S. Green Building Council, designs their products to aid in LEED certification of the buildings in which they are installed.

What to Know

Remotely Operated Balancing Dampers

Product Line Benefits

  • Preserves ceiling design aesthetics
  • Eliminates the need for access panels
  • Saves time and labor on balancing and rebalancing
  • Eliminates the need for hazardous scaffolding to reach ducts with limited access
  • Balancing is performed without breaking into finished walls or ceilings

Product Line Features

  • UL certified
  • Made in the USA

Product Line Options

  • Round, rectangular and oval options
  • Many sizes available
  • Operation:
    Roto-Twist® cable operated dampers
    Electro-Balance® battery powered dampers
  • Materials: Galvanized steel, aluminum and
    stainless steel