From Palaces to Landmarks

Two continents. Two royal households. One pioneering company. In the early 1900s, when a Japanese Crown Prince and a Spanish King sought the most advanced environmental systems for their palaces, they both arrived at the same conclusion: Johnson Controls. More than a century later, our technologies continue to support some of the world’s most celebrated buildings.

In 1906, Crown Prince Yoshihito of Japan, later crowned Emperor, commissioned a major refurbishment of his private residence, embracing an ornate European rococo aesthetic. Every element was selected with precision, including the climate control system. For this, he chose Johnson Controls.

Only a few months afterwards, King Alfonso XIII of Spain dispatched representatives across Europe and the United States to identify the most reliable heating technology for a new royal residence. After surveying the best available systems, his team selected Johnson Controls for its proven performance and engineering quality.

More than 100 years on, our dedication to innovation and reliability remains unchanged, supporting buildings that are designed to endure.
 

Icons recognise icons

For over 140 years, Johnson Controls has helped shape the identity of global landmarks, contributing to some of the most recognisable structures on the planet. Our forward-looking technologies have made buildings more efficient, more sustainable and more connected.

Our portfolio spans thousands of projects worldwide. One notable example is our contribution to the Shanghai Tower¹, China’s tallest building, completed in 2015. The LEED Gold-certified skyscraper incorporates 43 sustainable technologies, including more than 10 YORK chillers and heat pumps, a Metasys building management system and a bespoke central performance management system for the tower’s heating and cooling plant.

"We were looking for operational synergy between our HVAC and building controls systems – an objective which Johnson Controls has deep experience and expertise in,” said a representative from Shanghai Tower. “Johnson Controls was able to customise the solution for us to meet our unique requirements, including a significantly smaller operating footprint. Throughout the process, the company provided excellent and prompt service. We look forward to the high performance of the solutions from Johnson Controls and achieving our energy efficiency targets." ²

 
Looking ahead: Innovation for today’s icons

Just as Johnson Controls set new standards for royal residences in the early 20th century, we continue to push the boundaries of what modern buildings can achieve. Our work today spans AI-enabled optimisation, digital platforms, data intelligence and advanced building technologies that support high-performance environments across every sector.

Taipei 101, the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur and the Beijing National Stadium, among many others. These achievements form part of a wider legacy that includes safeguarding Edison’s laboratory and supporting the missions that helped send astronauts to the Moon.

From Asia’s tallest towers to Olympic venues, our expertise underpins iconic structures across the globe. Our technologies support landmarks such as Taipei 101 ³, the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur ³ and Beijing National Stadium ⁴, among many others. These achievements form part of a wider legacy that includes safeguarding Edison’s laboratory and supporting the missions that helped send astronauts to the Moon.

Sources:

1. Johnson Controls innovative building solutions forms the heart of China's tallest building. April 19, 2017.
2. Construction World: Innovative building solutions at Shanghai Tower. April 20, 2017.
3. China International Import Expo: Johnson Controls showcases a new landmark of green and intelligent building. November 2, 2018.
4. Heating and Ventilating Review: Johnson Controls competes for top place at the Olympics. August 14, 2008.