From our humble beginnings in Wisconsin in 1885 to working alongside music legends - It is the kind of journey that great songs are written about. From pioneering the first electric room thermostat to shaping the future of intelligent buildings, Johnson Controls has always been driven by innovation.

In the 1950s, we brought enhanced comfort and control to the iconic Capitol Records headquarters in Los Angeles, where some of the most celebrated names in music have recorded across generations – Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, the Beach Boys, Mariah Carey and Billie Eilish, to name a few.

The building was completed in 1956, with the studios opening the same year. Designed by the late Louis Naidorf, a visionary architect who passed away in August 2025 at the age of 96, it remains a true example of a smart, forward-thinking building. From its striking circular form to the underground “echo-chamber” recording spaces created in collaboration with guitar pioneer Les Paul, its distinction as the world’s first circular office building was more than an architectural statement. It was a strategic design that enabled lower construction costs and more efficient air conditioning.

That is where Johnson Controls came in.

Our innovations in an iconic smart building

Johnson Controls delivered advanced control systems and a suite of intelligent HVAC technologies to improve comfort, acoustics and energy performance throughout the building. We installed individual thermostats to manage the air conditioning units across the tower.

On the cooling side, chilled water supplies were regulated by a primary control system that worked in harmony with the refrigeration equipment’s capacity control. To complete the system, we implemented weather-compensated zone control for all primary hot air and hot water supply temperatures. This allowed the building to respond to outdoor conditions while optimising energy use.

Industry-leading environments

In a professional recording studio, air conditioning does far more than keep A-list artists comfortable. It is a vital component of safe, high-performance operations. Yet it also presents a challenge for producers and engineers. Recording spaces must be airtight to meet the highest acoustic standards, but they also require effective ventilation to prevent condensation and mould, which can damage sensitive equipment and pose health risks.

At the same time, HVAC systems must operate silently to avoid interfering with sound quality. It is a delicate balance that demands the kind of engineering expertise Johnson Controls is known for.

And it is not just music legends who benefit from quiet, reliable comfort. That same engineering excellence is built into many of our products. For example, the YORK YMC2 chiller is a market leader in low-noise operation – perceived by the human ear to be around half as loud as comparable chillers.

140 years of smart building innovation

The innovation Johnson Controls delivered at Capitol Records continues to inspire the transformation of forward-thinking facilities into strategic assets – from recording studios and hospitals to data centres, manufacturing plants, immersive entertainment venues and commercial real estate portfolios.

Our digital solutions, building automation and ultra-efficient heating and cooling systems are all designed with the same ethos that helped elevate one of Hollywood’s most iconic landmarks nearly 70 years ago.

It is a legacy that lives on in every soundproofed room, climate-controlled venue and acoustically optimised space we help power.

We have been building our legacy of innovation since 1885, and the story continues. Whether you are looking to reduce energy use, improve occupant comfort, advance sustainability – or all of the above – get in touch to explore the next chapter for your building.