by Unico Marketing Team | Aug 12, 2025 | Commercial Project
When it comes to designing HVAC systems for multi-family buildings, developers and mechanical contractors face a familiar set of challenges: space constraints, preservation of architectural aesthetics, energy efficiency demands, and the need for quiet comfort. The Unico System was engineered to meet exactly these kinds of challenges-and it’s already proving its value in high-end multi-family projects across the country.
Two standout examples-the Lucas Condos in Boston, MA and the Vue Newport Marina Condos in Newport Beach, CA-showcase how The Unico System can help architects, engineers, and developers deliver superior comfort without compromising design.
Lucas Condos, Boston MA: A Church Transformed
The Lucas Condos is a luxury residence located in Boston’s South End, housed in the restored shell of the 1874 German Trinity Catholic Church. The project presented a unique HVAC challenge: how to preserve the soaring ceilings, stained glass windows, and original masonry while adding modern heating and cooling to each unit.
The solution? The Unico System.
Our small-duct, high-velocity design allowed the project team to run HVAC supply tubing through existing wall cavities and structural voids-no soffits, no bulkheads, no design sacrifices. Each unit in the Lucas Condos features discreet outlets and a nearly invisible HVAC footprint, maintaining the architectural beauty of the historic church while providing residents with modern, efficient comfort.
Vue Newport Marina Condos, Newport Beach, CA: Waterfront Luxury Meets Performance
In Newport Beach, the Vue Newport Marina Condos brought luxury living to the Pacific Ocean waterfront. For this sleek, modern development, performance, efficiency, and aesthetics were key. With space at a premium and open-concept layouts a top priority, traditional ducted HVAC systems were off the table.
Thanks to the compact footprint of The Unico System’s air handler and flexible tubing, the mechanical contractor was able to install systems in tight spaces, such as closets or utility areas, without impacting ceilings heights or floorplans. The end result was a high-performing HVAC system that blends seamlessly into the design of each unit-delivering quiet, draft-free comfort year-round.
Thanks to the compact footprint of The Unico System’s air handler and flexible tubing, the mechanical contractor was able to install systems in tight spaces, such as closets or utility
areas, without impacting ceiling heights or floorplans. The end result was a high-performance HVAC system that blends seamlessly into the design of each unit-delivering quiet, draft-free comfort year-round.
Whether the project is a historic retrofit or modern new construction, The Unico System helps solve the common pain points of multi-family design: minimal space requirements, design flexibility, quiet operation, energy efficiency, and premium aesthetics. That’s why more and more builders are choosing The Unico System to meet the demands of today’s multifamily market.
Want to learn more?
Explore the Lucas Condos Case Study and the Vue Newport Marina Case Study to see how we can elevate your next project.
Comfort Fit for Your Home
by Unico Marketing Team | Jul 7, 2025 | Uncategorized
When it comes to staying cool during hot summer months, The Unico System is designed to deliver quiet, efficient comfort- even in homes where traditional HVAC just doesn’t fit. But even the best systems perform even better when paired with smart cooling habits. Here are 8 ways to maximize comfort while keeping energy use low with The Unico System.
- Use Ceiling Fans to Enhance Airflow
The Unico System delivers high-velocity air for consistent comfort, but ceiling fans can help push that cool air even further. Run your fans counterclockwise in summer to create a wind-chill effect and help move conditioned air throughout the space.
- Close Blinds or Curtains During the Day
Sunlight streaming through windows can quickly warm up your home. Keeping blinds or curtains closed- especially during the hottest parts of the day- reduces solar heat gain and makes it easier for The Unico System to maintain a steady, comfortable temperature.
- Keep Filters Clean
The Unico System includes a dedicated air filter that helps protect the system and maintain clean indoor air. Over time, dust and debris can build up, restricting airflow and making the system work harder. Checking your filter monthly and replacing it every 3-6 months (or as recommended by your installing contractor) keeps air flowing efficiently and ensures peak system performance-especially during the summer months when the system is working hardest.
- Seal and Insulate for Maximum Efficiency
Our small-duct system already minimizes air leaks, but sealing gaps around windows, doors, and attic access points will keep conditioned air inside. Insulating attics and crawl spaces also helps maintain your desired temperature without extra effort from your system.
- Use Smart Thermostat Settings
Pairing The Unico System with a smart thermostat or programmable control allows you to fine-tune your comfort. Set schedules to raise the temperature when you’re away and cool things down before you return-without having to run the system all day.
- Take Advantage of Zoning (if Available)
If your Unico System includes zoning, use it to your advantage. Only cool the rooms you’re using, and adjust airflow to different parts of the house as needed. This reduces unnecessary energy use and extends the life of the system.
- Limit Heat from Appliances
Appliances like ovens, dryers, or even lightbulbs give off heat. Try grilling outdoors instead of cooking inside on hot days, and run heat-producing appliances (like dishwashers) in the early morning or evening when it’s cooler. Less indoor heat = less demand on your system.
- Keep Air Outlets Clear
The Unico System uses small, discreet outlets that deliver air into each room. Make sure furniture, rugs, or drapes aren’t covering or blocking them. Clear path allow for optimal air distribution and more even cooling throughout your space.
Stay Cool, Efficient, and Comfortable
With The Unico System and a few smart habits, you can enjoy whisper-quiet comfort all summer long-without adding strain or rising energy bills. Whether you’re in a historic home, a custom build, or anywhere space is tight, these tips help you get the most out of your Unico experience.
Want help customizing your comfort setup?
Find a Unico Preferred Contractor near you.
by Unico Marketing Team | Jun 11, 2025 | Commercial Project, Spot Cooling
If you own or manage a factory, you know the struggle: your team is working hard near machinery that generates intense heat, while your facility’s massive footprint makes traditional HVAC systems inefficient and costly. Cooling an entire warehouse or production floor is not just expensive—it’s unnecessary. That’s where spot cooling comes in.
At Unico, we’ve engineered a solution that’s both powerful and precise: UniSpot. This small-duct, high-velocity system is designed to cool the person—not the plant.
Why Spot Cooling Makes Sense for Industrial Spaces
Factories aren’t built like office buildings. High ceilings, open bays, and large square footage make uniform cooling a logistical and financial challenge. Plus, many production areas don’t need to be cooled—just the people doing the work.
By targeting specific zones or workstations, UniSpot delivers comfort where it matters most—right where your workers are.
What Makes UniSpot Different?
Traditional HVAC systems rely on flooding large spaces with cooled air, often wasting energy and leaving key areas under-conditioned. UniSpot flips that approach. With flexible ducting and high-velocity delivery, it:
- Targets individual workstations with focused airflow
- Maintains consistent comfort in even the hottest corners of your facility
- Reduces energy consumption by only conditioning occupied zones
- Integrates easily into existing industrial layouts
Whether it’s a workstation next to a heat-generating press or a packaging table that sees high traffic, UniSpot keeps your team comfortable—without trying to cool the entire building.
Better Comfort = Better Productivity
Employee comfort isn’t just a nice-to-have. Studies show that cooler, more comfortable work environments lead to:
- Fewer heat-related health issues
- Higher morale and focus
- Improved output and reduced error rates
In other words, spot cooling with UniSpot isn’t just an investment in comfort—it’s an investment in productivity.
Ready to Cool Smarter?
If you’re tired of high energy bills and uneven cooling in your plant, let UniSpot change the game. Reach out to our team to learn how our small-duct, high-velocity spot cooling system can be customized to your facility.
by Unico Marketing Team | May 14, 2025 | Historic Restoration, Older Homes, Traditional Home Project
One of the charms of owning an older home is enjoying the period craftmanship that went into its construction. The old cliché, “they don’t build them like they used to” is readily evident in older homes that have structural and finishing details that are no longer seen in modern homes.
However, an HVAC solution that fits with and doesn’t disrupt the artistry of these homes can be a challenge. Let alone one that provides lasting comfort and energy efficiency. This is exactly why The Unico System small-duct high velocity solution was created.
Many older homes relied on steam systems for heat or were built before the inclusion of ductwork for air conditioning. These homes often lack the necessary space to run traditional ducts without major renovations or compromises to the living space’s architectural aesthetics. In many of these homes, plaster and lathe walls reduce the interior wall cavity space, and floor joists weren’t built to modern sizing standards.
Small Ducts for Tight Spaces
The Unico System was designed with the space limitations of these homes in mind. Unico ducts are engineered to fit within small areas in existing walls and ceilings. Unico System supply ducts are only 2 inches in diameter, making it easy to work them into almost any older home structure. They’re also flexible, which gives HVAC contractors the ability to thread them through spaces that can’t fit traditional ducts.
Compact Equipment
Another advantage The Unico System has for older homes is the air handling unit (AHU). With traditional HVAC systems, the AHU is often large and box-shaped, which makes it difficult to find space to accommodate it. The Unico System AHU is small and compact enough to fit in tight attics, crawlspaces, cubby holes, or even small closets. And the system’s main trunk ducting, or plenum, is one-third the size of traditional forced air ducting, allowing it to fit in cramped areas. It’s just another way Unico makes older homes more comfortable without the need for extensive renovations.
Made to Match Your Older Home’s Style
Lastly, The Unico System uses discreet outlets rather than conventional rectangular registers. They are available in round and slotted configurations that can easily be further customized and can be painted, stained, or wall-papered to match the aesthetic style of your older home. The unique look of your older home will remain unchanged since Unico outlets virtually disappear in the existing decor.
So, whether your home is Colonial Revival, Queen Anne, Federalist, Victorian, or Mid-Century Modern, The Unico System is the perfect HVAC solution. Since its inception, The Unico System has been installed in all these home styles and more, including many properties listed on national, state, and local historic registries.
Supported by Old House Journal and Arts & Crafts Homes as a premier choice for small-duct HVAC in historic and home preservation.
Old House Journal helps you restore, repair, update, and decorate your home. Find how-to stories, design ideas, and hard-to-find products.
Click here to learn more
by Unico Marketing Team | Apr 29, 2025 | Partnerships, Press Releases
St. Louis, MO – April 29, 2025 – Unico, Inc., a pioneer in small-duct high-velocity HVAC manufacturing , is proud to announce Shipshape.AI as its recommended monitoring solution for customers seeking to optimize performance and enhance user experience. This strategic partnership integrates Shipshape.AI’s advanced AI-driven monitoring capabilities into Unico’s innovative The Unico System, setting a new benchmark for efficiency and reliability in the smart technology sector.
Unico has long been recognized for its expertise in designing and manufacturing high-performance solutions, particularly in HVAC and modular technologies. With a commitment to sustainability and user-centric design, Unico’s systems are trusted by customers worldwide. By recommending Shipshape.AI as its preferred monitoring solution, Unico ensures its customers gain access to real-time insights, predictive maintenance, and seamless system optimization—further extending the value and longevity of Unico’s offerings.
Shipshape.AI specializes in AI-powered monitoring and predictive analytics, transforming how systems are managed in homes and buildings. Their platform leverages machine learning to detect inefficiencies, anticipate maintenance needs, and optimize energy usage, delivering actionable insights directly to users. When integrated with The Unico System, Shipshape.AI’s technology provides a smarter, more responsive experience that empowers customers to stay ahead of potential issues while maximizing performance.
“We’re thrilled to recommend Shipshape.AI as our go-to monitoring solution,” said Scott Intagliata, Co-Owner and CMO at Unico, Inc.. “Their AI-driven platform perfectly complements our systems, giving our customers unparalleled visibility and control. This partnership reflects our commitment to delivering the best in innovation and reliability.”
“Being chosen as Unico’s recommended monitoring solution is a testament to the impact our technology can have,” added Alex Linn, CEO of Shipshape.AI. “We’re excited to work alongside Unico to redefine what’s possible in smart system management, ensuring their clients benefit from smarter, more efficient operations.”
Unico encourages its customers, industry stakeholders, and media outlets to explore the benefits of this partnership by visiting www.unicosystems.com or www.shipshape.ai. For more information, to request a demo, or to integrate Shipshape.AI with your Unico system, contact our teams at [email protected] or [email protected].
About Unico Systems
The Unico System is a small-duct central heating and air conditioning system manufactured by Unico Inc. Ideal for custom and new home construction, older home retrofits and historic preservation, modular, and commercial applications, The Unico System takes less than one-third the space of a traditional HVAC system. Unico is an active member of the U.S. National Trust for Historic Preservation.For over 30 years, Unico has delivered high-performance, user-centric products that prioritize efficiency and flexibility. Learn more at www.unicosystem.com.
About Shipshape.AI
Shipshape.AI, based in Austin, TX, is a leading provider of AI-driven monitoring and predictive analytics for home and building management. Their platform empowers users with real-time insights and automation to enhance system performance and reduce costs. Discover more at www.shipshape.ai.
