Emerson has opened its $35 million Helix Innovation Center on the University of Dayton campus, which company officials say is intended to foster a collaborative approach to conducting HVAC market research and creating new technologies  for residential and commercial buildings.                                                       

 “There are some big things happening in our industry right now and we are playing a lead role in many of them,” said Emerson’s executive vice president, Bob Sharp. “To stay on the forefront, our approach is to look at the entire environment our customers operate in, and this is why we have invested to create this facility.”

Company officials say the center will focus on advancing ideas quickly from concept to prototype through collaboration with customers, industry partners, competitors and experts from other industries who can bring new perspectives to specific challenges.

The center features full-scale, simulated environments, including a working commercial kitchen, a two-story residential home, grocery store and data center.

Emerson plans for center to be a globalhub of industry education. In addition to the modules, the facility includes three learning labs and the company plans to host industry meetings and hold forums for HVAC professionals.