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A Smart Investment for Wall Street
From Wall Street to The City of London, Johnson Controls has been a trusted name in smart building innovation for over a century. In 1901, we delivered a pioneering climate control system for the New York Stock Exchange—setting the standard for intelligent infrastructure in finance.
Today, our technologies continue to support UK organisations with energy-efficient solutions that improve sustainability, reduce costs and enhance occupant wellbeing. From HVAC systems to building automation, our portfolio is tailored to meet the demands of British buildings.
As we mark 140 years of innovation, our latest advancements (such as the YORK® YVAM Chiller) reflect our commitment to compact, high-performance systems aligned with UK decarbonisation goals.
Discover how our legacy of smart investment continues to shape the future of healthy buildings across the United Kingdom.
The early 1900s marked a volatile chapter for the American stock market. Speculative trading surged, and high-profile disputes between financiers such as Jacob Schiff and E.H. Harriman culminated in The Panic of 1901. Amidst the financial unrest, the overcrowded trading floor at New York’s stock exchange was quite literally overheating. The conditions were not only uncomfortable—they were hazardous.
Restoring order began with the environment itself. It called for Johnson Controls, then just 16 years into a journey that would evolve into a 140-year legacy of engineering excellence and dependable innovation.
Engineering comfort in the heart of finance
As the number of stockbrokers grew rapidly at the close of the 19th century, the trading venues on Broad Street and New Street struggled to keep pace. Despite multiple expansions, the facilities were deemed inadequate by municipal sanitary engineers, particularly in terms of ventilation and plumbing.
On 9 September 1901, the cornerstone for 18 Broad Street was laid—a site that continues to serve the financial sector today. That same month, Johnson Controls was commissioned to supply 140 thermostats and 480 valves for a contract valued at $11,370. It was the fifth largest agreement ever secured by our New York City branch at the time.
This milestone marked the beginning of our enduring commitment to climate control in high-performance environments. Today, our advanced HVAC systems and building automation platforms continue to support mission-critical facilities across the United Kingdom, helping organisations meet sustainability targets, improve energy efficiency and enhance occupant wellbeing.
Explore how our legacy of innovation continues to shape healthy buildings and smart infrastructure across the UK.
"Where so many of our members spend the active years of their lives, they are entitled to the best that architectural ingenuity and engineering skill can produce”
R. H. Thomas, chairman of the building committee that oversaw the construction
Environments fit for an empire
Our work on Wall Street marked the beginning of a long-standing tradition: delivering climate confidence to those who shape markets, ideas and industries.
More than a century has passed since our first major project in New York City, and like The City That Never Sleeps, our drive for innovation remains constant. Following our success at the New York Stock Exchange, we extended our reach to other landmark buildings of the era, including the Metropolitan Life Building, the Bank of America Building and the Singer Building—then the tallest skyscraper in the world. With 1,200 thermostats and 1,800 valves installed, it was also among the smartest.
While the names on these buildings may have changed, the pioneering spirit behind them lives on through advanced solutions like the YVAM Chiller. This breakthrough in chilled water technology offers exceptional efficiency, increased modularity and a compact footprint. It is engineered to meet the full spectrum of cooling priorities: dependable, cost-effective, easy to operate, well supported, energy-efficient, regulation-compliant and aligned with decarbonisation goals.
Today’s facilities face complex challenges. Whether you manage a high-rise in central London or a healthcare site in rural Wales, our smart building solutions are scalable and tailored to your needs. Get in touch with us and find out how we can help power your mission with confidence.