A History of Innovation
Collaboration-driven innovation for 75 years
Founded in 1949, Southland is an MEP building systems expert. From design through building maintenance, we offer full lifecycle solutions. We've grown from a local heating and cooling company to a national MEP leader.
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1940s
Southland's early days
Southland Industries begins as a small furnace company in Southern California called Southland Heating.
June 17, 1949
- Six employees purchase the Payne Furnace Long Beach, California branch for $24,000 and name the new company Southland Heating. The new stakeholders are Don Will, Donald E. Sullivan, Robert N. Hall, Lawrence Redwine, Charles E. Watson, and Margaret G. Stimson.
1950s
A "Lean" journey begins
Long before the concept of green building, Southland takes a "Lean" approach to projects with our teams focusing on smarter use of materials and less waste. To this day, Lean building principles save our clients time and money.
1950
- To grow the business, Southland Heating begins to advertise on TV. By the end of 1950, sales quadruple to more than $60,000 a month and employment opportunities grow.
1951
- Southland Heating creates a wholesale company called Advanced Engineering and Supply Corporation (AESC).
1952
- Brandt, a future Southland Industries company, is founded as Brandt Engineering.
- We begin to focus on commercial work while enabling early Lean principles to reduce waste.
- To better serve our clients, Southland splits into four divisions: new construction, built construction, service, and appliance sales and installation.
1953
- TCM Corp., a future Southland Industries company, is founded.
- We open a Pasadena, California office.
- To reflect the recent rise in popularity of air conditioning in commercial construction, we change our name to Southland Heating and Cooling.
1960s
A framework for design-build
In 1968, Southland performs our first design-build project, foreshadowing our future as a leader in design-build.
1966
- We transition from doing residential to commercial work and move our headquarters to Long Beach, California.
- TCM, a future Southland Industries company, becomes a full mechanical contractor, offering piping, sheet metal, and plumbing.
1968
- Southland sells our first, large design-build mall (Oxnard). Our relationship with the general contractor during construction helps to vault us into markets throughout the western states.
1970s
Southland starts in-house engineering department
We add in-house engineering to our growing capabilities.
1975
- We start an in-house engineering department to expand our capabilities.
1979
- Revenue climbs to $11 million and we make our debut in the "Book of Giants," Contracting Magazine's annual list of top contractors.
1980s
Southland Heating becomes Southland Industries
To reflect services beyond heating and cooling, we change our name to Southland Industries, formally establishing our current brand.
1986
- Jay Culbertson, future Executive President of Southland, becomes President and CEO of TCM, a future Southland Industries company.
- Due to an increased demand within the industry, we add the pipefitting trade as part of our core offerings.
1988
- Mike Moore becomes CEO.
- Moore changes the name from Southland Heating and Cooling to Southland Industries, Inc., reflecting Southland as a large-scale business that offers many services in addition to heating and cooling.
1990s
Expanding our reach
To mark 50 years of excellence, we add an energy services division, plumbing solutions, and multiple U.S. offices.
1990
- Southland Industries Service Company (SISCO) is formed, providing service, retrofits, and building automation solutions.
1991
- We open an office in Honolulu, Hawaii.
1993
- The Continuous Improvement Process (CIP) initiative, a Lean concept, is introduced. This allows Southland to improve production and operation of our facilities while reducing waste.
- We form an Energy Services Division.
- We rank #12 in Engineering News-Record magazine (ENR).
- We open Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada offices while revenue reaches $103 million.
1995
- We add the plumbing trade to our core capabilities and complete our first international projects in Mexico.
- Brandt, a future Southland Industries company, is purchased by Mark Zilbermann and Barry Moore from JWP.
1996
- We open offices in Denver, Colorado, Portland, Oregon, and Houston, Texas.
1997
- We open an office in Richmond, Virginia.
- HPAC Magazine publishes landmark design-build article, "Consultant/Contractor Collaboration–An Alternative," by Southland's Mike Moore and David C. J. Peters.
1998
- Burns Mechanical, a future Southland Industries company, is founded.
- We launch an Architectural System Division (ASD) to develop cleanroom envelope systems for the electronics industry.
1999
- We open an office in San Jose, California.
- Southland celebrates our 50th anniversary.
- We sell SISCO to Reliant Energy Solutions.
2000s
A decade of strategic growth
Southland pivots to design-build and design-assist, marking an intentional shift in business strategy. We add fire protection and energy modeling to our in-house solutions.
2001
- Jim Collins, author of Good to Great, is brought in by Andy Fimiano, future Southland CEO, for a strategic planning session. This results in our change in focus to design-build and design-assist. This change is validated by the federal government's turn to design-build for all its projects.
- Southland is voted "Commercial Contractor of the Year" by Contracting Business Magazine.
2002
- Andy Fimiano becomes CEO.
- Southland purchases Maximum Fire Protection and adds fire protection to our capabilities.
2004
- Revenue reaches $258 million.
2006
- We start self-performing controls on new projects.
- Southland is awarded the James T. Smerz – Award of Honor, which is awarded to the safest contractor within an elite group.
- TCM, a future Southland Industries company, becomes involved in the construction of one of the earliest and largest data centers in Oregon.
2008
- We start an in-house energy modeling group.
2009
- We innovate, design, and build a new modular fire pump room on wheels for fire protection to reduce costs. This innovation is a a solution to the complicated design and construction associated with pump rooms.
- The Southland Green Team is officially formed to implement energy conservation and recycling.
2010s
Becoming a $1 billion company
As Southland grows through acquisitions and expanded services, including engineering, a former intern rises through the ranks to become CEO.
2011
- Ted Lynch, Southland's first intern in 1993, becomes CEO.
- While revenue reaches $407 million, we jump into the growing Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) market with five IPD projects from private clients.
- We innovate the Fan Powered Induction Unit (FPIU), which has since become an industry standard.
- In honor of the late David C.J. Peters, we establish a scholarship fund with the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).
2012
- We restart our energy services business as Southland Energy.
- Brandt, a future Southland Industries company, is renamed to The Brandt Companies.
2013
- We launch a new logo, brand, and business strategy (Connected Solutions).
- We acquire ABS Systems, a controls company in Las Vegas, Nevada and start Southland Engineering and Service.
2014
- We establish a $1 billion goal.
- Southland acquires TCM Corp. in Portland, Oregon.
2015
- We launch a new controls company, Envise, and acquire Trinity EMCS, a controls company in San Francisco, California.
- We open our first Southland Engineering office in Tempe, Arizona while Southland Engineering debuts on CSE's MEP Giants at #60.
- We add electrical engineering to our capabilities.
2018
- We reach our $1 billion revenue goal.
2019
- Southland moves from an 'S' corporation to a 'C' corporation. This expands opportunities for employee ownership.
- Brandt, a future Southland Industries company, acquires Magnum Engineering & Controls and Hilbig Industrial Refrigeration Services.
2020s
One company, one vision
Our integrated, "one company" approach ensures we seamlessly share resources and adopt best practices across our national network.
2020
- Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Penn Medicine Pavilion project ramps up production in April to meet the increasing needs of healthcare professionals.
- Southland acquires Burns Mechanical in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
2022
- We consolidate our brands into the "one company" model.
- Southland acquires The Brandt Companies in Texas.
2024
- We celebrate our 75th anniversary.