From our humble beginnings in Wisconsin in 1885 to rubbing shoulders with the stars. It’s the kind of journey that great songs are written about.

In the 1950s, we brought more comfort to the iconic Capitol Records headquarters, located in Los Angeles, where some of the biggest names in music have recorded throughout the 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’s a true example of a smart, innovative building. From the stunning circular shape to the underground “echo-chamber” recording spaces designed in collaboration with guitar icon Les Paul, its distinction as the world’s first circular office building wasn’t just an architectural statement. It was a cohesive strategy that enabled lower construction costs and more efficient air conditioning.

That’s where Johnson Controls came in.

Our innovations in an iconic smart building
Johnson Controls implemented state-of-the-art controls and a suite of intelligent HVAC systems to enhance comfort, acoustics and efficiency throughout the building. We installed individual thermostats to control the air conditioning units around the building.

On the cooling side, we ensured chilled water supplies were governed by a primary control system that worked in tandem with the refrigeration equipment’s capacity control. And to round things off, we added weather-compensated zone control for all primary hot air and hot water supply temperatures. This helped keep the building responsive to outdoor conditions while optimizing energy use.

Industry-leading environments
In a studio, air conditioning does much more than provide comfort to A-list rock stars – it’s a crucial part of safe and successful operations. It also creates a potential headache for producers and engineers. While recording spaces need to be airtight to ensure the highest acoustic standards for professional recording, the demands of normal building function also need to be considered. For instance, proper ventilation is essential for preventing mold and condensation, which can damage expensive equipment and pose a health risk. At the same time, HVAC operation can’t affect sound quality, which makes noise control a necessity. It’s a balancing act that demands the expertise Johnson Controls is known for.

It’s not just music legends who value reliable comfort and silent operations. That engineering excellence is found in many of our products. For example, the YORK YMC2 chiller is an industry leader for quiet operations – the human ear perceives it to be about half as loud as competitive chillers.

140 years of smart building innovation
The innovation that Johnson Controls delivered at Capitol Records continues to transform forward-thinking facilities into strategic assets – recording studios, hospitals, data centers, manufacturing plants, immersive entertainment spaces, commercial real estate portfolios and much more. Our industry-leading digital solutions, building automation and hyper-efficient heating and cooling systems are made with the same ethos that enhanced one of Hollywood’s most iconic landmarks almost 70 years ago.

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

We’ve been building our legacy of innovation since 1885, and our story gets better every day. Whether you’re looking to optimize energy use, enhance occupant comfort, drive sustainability – or all of the above – get in touch to discuss the next chapter for your building.