The Mid-Atlantic's Standard for Mechanical Excellence
100% Employee-Owned. Since 1946. Providing design-build construction and 24/7 service for the regions that power our world.
.svg)
The Philosophy
"We don’t just chase trophies; we champion the health of our owners. Our safety record is built on leading indicators—proactive management that ensures every team member returns home safely."
National Recognition
Defending National AGC Champions and current Top 3 Finalist for Safety and Health Management.
Excellence in Management
Proud recipients of the BEST Level 3 and CSEA awards, representing the highest standards in proactive safety leadership.
Employee Ownership
We don’t just hire employees; we build owners. Our expertise is "built-in" with a legacy of dedication.
Retention Stats:
- 237 owners with 10+ years of service
- 99 owners with 20+ years of service
- 33 owners with 30+ years of service.
- 8 owners with 40+ years of service
Every technician is an owner of the company.
That means we are each fully and personally accountable for the level of service we provide.
Southern Air’s Leadership
At Southern Air, our leadership team comprises of seven seasoned professionals who exemplify integrity, expertise, and a steadfast commitment to excellence. Since 1946, our Board of Directors bring extensive hands-on experience and a deep understanding of the industry, ensuring we consistently deliver exceptional mechanical contracting solutions to our clients.
Bob Clarke assumed the presidency from founder George Coastan in 1976, spearheading the expansion of our Board of Directors and company capabilities, and laying the foundation for our continued growth. Following Clarke’s retirement in 1998, Ronnie Kidd, a former field electrician who rose to president, led the company with visionary leadership until 2015. Our fourth and current president, Paul Denham, takes Southern Air into the future alongside our board of directors who represent different niches of the mechanical and electrical construction and maintenance industries. They are dedicated to upholding our values and exceeding expectations in every project we undertake.
Bob Clarke assumed the presidency from founder George Coastan in 1976, spearheading the expansion of our Board of Directors and company capabilities, and laying the foundation for our continued growth. Following Clarke’s retirement in 1998, Ronnie Kidd, a former field electrician who rose to president, led the company with visionary leadership until 2015. Our fourth and current president, Paul Denham, takes Southern Air into the future alongside our board of directors who represent different niches of the mechanical and electrical construction and maintenance industries. They are dedicated to upholding our values and exceeding expectations in every project we undertake.
Paul Denham
Southern Air President
Design/Build MEP Engineering Solutions
Paul Jennings Hall
James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA
Southern Air delivered a full-scale MEP package for this 151,000-square-foot residence hall, proving our ability to coordinate massive mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems under tight deadlines.
From our Prefabrication Division building custom risers to our field teams installing a 200-ton chiller and 3,000-amp service, we handled every technical challenge—including 20-foot ceilings and complex vertical shafts.
This project wasn’t just about the equipment; it was about our teams working through record winter weather to ensure 500 students moved into a perfectly conditioned, fully automated building on day one.
From our Prefabrication Division building custom risers to our field teams installing a 200-ton chiller and 3,000-amp service, we handled every technical challenge—including 20-foot ceilings and complex vertical shafts.
This project wasn’t just about the equipment; it was about our teams working through record winter weather to ensure 500 students moved into a perfectly conditioned, fully automated building on day one.
.avif)
Devil's Backbone
Brewing Company in Charlottesville, VA
For the Devils Backbone Outpost expansion, Southern Air demonstrated high-level industrial expertise by engineering a custom, 1,000-foot stainless steel piping system to transport beer between facilities while maintaining a crisp 38°F.
Our team utilized advanced orbital welding to meet strict food-grade purity standards, designing the line to handle 15-inch thermal expansion during high-heat cleaning cycles. Beyond the piping, we designed and installed the critical infrastructure—including a 150 HP steam boiler, a 100 HP air compressor, and a specialized chilling system—enabling the brewery to triple its production and run canning and bottling lines simultaneously.
This project highlights our ability to pivot into specialized markets like food and beverage, delivering the precision and horsepower required for world-class manufacturing.
Our team utilized advanced orbital welding to meet strict food-grade purity standards, designing the line to handle 15-inch thermal expansion during high-heat cleaning cycles. Beyond the piping, we designed and installed the critical infrastructure—including a 150 HP steam boiler, a 100 HP air compressor, and a specialized chilling system—enabling the brewery to triple its production and run canning and bottling lines simultaneously.
This project highlights our ability to pivot into specialized markets like food and beverage, delivering the precision and horsepower required for world-class manufacturing.
%20(1).jpg)
Commons IV Dorm
Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA
Southern Air delivered a complete MEP and building automation package for Liberty University’s 10-story, 166,908-square-foot Commons IV dormitory, leveraging heavy prefabrication to stay ahead of a demanding high-rise schedule.
By pre-building "wet walls" and electrical assemblies in our shop for all 330 dorm rooms, our teams reduced on-site labor and ensured a flawless fit within the building’s complex steel structure. Our BIM and BAS teams re-engineered the mechanical room for better serviceability and meticulously programmed over 5,000 individual control points, managing everything from 330 fan coil units to the central boiler plant.
This project highlights our ability to use in-house design and shop-led construction to dictate the pace of major institutional builds, ensuring a seamless transition from "green site" to a fully operational facility for 650 students.
By pre-building "wet walls" and electrical assemblies in our shop for all 330 dorm rooms, our teams reduced on-site labor and ensured a flawless fit within the building’s complex steel structure. Our BIM and BAS teams re-engineered the mechanical room for better serviceability and meticulously programmed over 5,000 individual control points, managing everything from 330 fan coil units to the central boiler plant.
This project highlights our ability to use in-house design and shop-led construction to dictate the pace of major institutional builds, ensuring a seamless transition from "green site" to a fully operational facility for 650 students.
Hotel Madison
Harrisonburg, Virginia
Southern Air was the full MEP design engineer from day one, which allowed us to value-engineer the systems before a single shovel hit the dirt. We saved the client significant budget by swapping conventional plumbing for a Sovent single-stack drainage system, and we tackled the high-end climate needs by integrating a VRF system with specialized natatorium dehumidification for the pool area.
When the 17-month schedule was chopped by two months to hit JMU’s graduation weekend, our Prefabrication Division and field crews worked double-time to get the 480V service and lighting controls live. It’s a prime example of how our in-house engineering and shop capacity allow us to absorb major schedule shifts without missing a beat.
When the 17-month schedule was chopped by two months to hit JMU’s graduation weekend, our Prefabrication Division and field crews worked double-time to get the 480V service and lighting controls live. It’s a prime example of how our in-house engineering and shop capacity allow us to absorb major schedule shifts without missing a beat.
Longwood University
Farmville, Virginia
For the Joan Perry Brock Center at Longwood University, Southern Air handled the full electrical scope, proving our ability to keep a high-profile project on track despite crippling supply chain delays. When the main 20-foot switchgear was delayed for over a year, our team engineered an extensive temporary power and distribution network to keep the HVAC, kitchen, and media systems running so other trades could finish their work.
Once the gear finally arrived just weeks before the grand opening, our crews executed a massive, 4-day shutdown and cutover—ripping out the temporary gear and getting the permanent 4,000-seat arena fully operational in a single weekend. It was a "photo finish" that showcased our team's grit and ability to solve logistical nightmares without missing the client’s ribbon-cutting deadline.
Once the gear finally arrived just weeks before the grand opening, our crews executed a massive, 4-day shutdown and cutover—ripping out the temporary gear and getting the permanent 4,000-seat arena fully operational in a single weekend. It was a "photo finish" that showcased our team's grit and ability to solve logistical nightmares without missing the client’s ribbon-cutting deadline.
Reliability for High-Stakes Environments
Active Stewardship
3,590 commercial businesses currently under active maintenance contracts.- Large Retrofits
Proven expertise in $500k – $2M system upgrades for occupied buildings. - Response
Commercial Service Vehicles dispatched 24/7.
Professional HVAC, Electrical & Plumbing
for Your Home
The Tech Standard
Background-checked, drug-tested technicians in marked vehicles and uniforms.
Reliability
Same-day service striving for 24-hour response on emergencies; 4-6 hour windows for Comfort Club members.
Tenure
Serving Lynchburg, Winchester, and Charlottesville for over 80 years.
Service Areas:
.svg){kind=icon}
West Virginia
Bluefield
Bluefield
North Carolina
Greensboro
Greensboro
Request More Information
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.