Commercial mechanical · Bay Area
Coordinated HVAC systems for commercial, multifamily, and high-end residential projects where design decisions matter before installation starts.
Project Proof
A focused look at the commercial, institutional, VRF, and high-end residential scopes 3rdGen is built for. These are not portfolio fillers — they show the level of coordination, system complexity, and project context we're trusted to handle.
Commercial Berkeley, CA
GC-led Berkeley retail tenant improvement with a Mitsubishi four-zone ductless system, fresh air supply, exhaust ventilation, and louver coordination in an active commercial space.
Commercial Tenant Improvement
Commercial Berkeley, CA
Commercial HVAC upgrade for an institutional religious facility in Berkeley, delivered in coordination with VRGC Inc. and the project team around existing building conditions, access limitations, and closeout requirements.
Institutional Upgrade
Residential Berkeley, CA
GC-led residential remodel in Berkeley with a six-zone Fujitsu ductless heat pump system and two outdoor units, coordinated around an older existing home being prepared for sale.
High-End Residential Remodel
Capabilities
Mechanical systems for commercial, multifamily, VRF, and high-end residential projects where coordination matters before installation starts.
Commercial mechanical scopes for tenant improvements, existing-building upgrades, institutional facilities, and new construction — coordinated with the GC, design team, and project schedule.
View Scope →Complex commercial and residential VRF systems planned around zoning, equipment placement, refrigerant routing, access, startup, and long-term serviceability.
View Scope →Mechanical systems prepared for BAS or controls integration through BACnet-capable equipment coordination and communication-ready infrastructure.
3rdGen does not perform BAS programming.
View Scope →Full-system retrofits, remodels, new construction, heat pump conversions, and design-build HVAC for homes where comfort, layout, and finish details matter.
View Scope →Repeatable HVAC systems for multifamily and mixed-use projects, coordinated around unit layouts, ventilation needs, equipment access, and construction sequencing.
View Scope →In-house Manual J, Manual S, and Manual D support for residential scopes, with practical design input before equipment and duct decisions are locked in.
Process
A principal-led process built around scope clarity, early coordination, and field execution.
Built to reduce field conflicts before install starts.
01
We review the project context, drawings, site constraints, schedule, and mechanical intent before pushing toward equipment or pricing.
02
We help clarify system approach, load requirements, equipment placement, routing, access, and coordination risks early.
03
We work with the GC, architect, engineer, owner, and other trades to reduce field conflicts and avoid preventable rework.
04
Our team executes the mechanical scope with attention to sequencing, workmanship, startup, and closeout.
Project Teams
3rdGen works best with project teams that need mechanical scope clarified early, coordinated with the right people, and executed without unnecessary handholding.
We help clarify scope, identify coordination risks, and execute the work with respect for schedule, sequencing, and the active jobsite.
Mechanical Support for GCs → For ArchitectsWe support equipment placement, routing, access, visible components, and design-sensitive constraints before field conditions force the answer.
Coordination for Architects → For EngineersWe understand that equipment selections, documentation, controls readiness, routing, and startup requirements need to survive the jump from drawings to installation.
Working With Engineers → For Owners / Residential ClientsFor full-system retrofits, remodels, VRF systems, heat pump conversions, and residential scopes where comfort, access, and long-term performance matter.
Residential Design-Build HVAC →Principal-Led Work
3rdGen is a lean, principal-led mechanical design-build firm. That structure matters on complex projects, where early decisions around routing, equipment placement, access, documentation, and coordination can create field problems later if missed.
We are built for project teams that need a mechanical partner who can think through the scope, coordinate with the right people, and execute without turning the work into a management burden.
Service Area
3rdGen supports commercial, multifamily, institutional, and high-end residential mechanical scopes across six Bay Area counties — from design coordination through installation.
Scope types deployed
Marin County
Mill Valley · Sausalito · Tiburon · San Rafael
San Francisco County
Pacific Heights · SOMA · Noe Valley · Mission
San Mateo County
Burlingame · Palo Alto · Redwood City · Atherton
Alameda County
Oakland · Berkeley · Emeryville · Pleasanton
Santa Clara County
San Jose · Sunnyvale · Mountain View · Cupertino
Contra Costa County
Walnut Creek · Lafayette · Orinda · Danville
Practical notes on coordination, VRF systems, controls-ready infrastructure, and design-build HVAC decisions that affect real projects.
Apr 28, 2026 · 5 min read · Manual J
Manual J load calculations help size residential HVAC systems around the actual home - not rules of thumb, tonnage guesses, or equipment swaps.
Apr 28, 2026 · 6 min read · Duct Sizing
Duct sizing affects airflow, comfort, noise, and system performance long before installation starts.
Send the project context, location, timeline, and mechanical scope. If it looks like a fit, we'll follow up to discuss the right next step.
3rdGen is best suited for commercial mechanical scopes, VRF and multi-zone systems, multifamily work, institutional upgrades, and full-system residential remodels or retrofits. We are not structured around small service calls or emergency repair work.