St. Joseph’s Church in Appleton, WI, partnered with Bassett Mechanical to modernize its HVAC and controls infrastructure and improve overall comfort throughout the building. The 158-year-old church recognized that its aging systems, frequent equipment issues, and growing comfort challenges required a long-term, unique solution—one that would enhance reliability without disrupting church operations or affecting its historic space.

We Listen 

As discussions began, the church shared ongoing concerns about inconsistent temperatures, aging piping, incorrectly sized equipment, and a two-pipe fan coil system that no longer met their needs. A boiler failure the previous winter further emphasized the need for a more reliable and flexible solution. Because Bassett already supported the facility through a long-standing service relationship, they turned to our team to evaluate replacement options that would address comfort, efficiency, and long-term performance.

We Discover

Through a detailed assessment, we identified several key issues and opportunities:

• The building used a two-pipe fan coil system with wall and ceiling-mounted units:
  • Cold water circulated in summer
  • Hot water circulated in winter
• While functional, the system lacked the flexibility of a four‑pipe system, which would allow simultaneous heating and cooling.
• The boiler, cooling system, and controls were outdated and needed upgrades to improve reliability.
• The church had experienced recurring system lockouts, and the prior winter’s boiler failure had already required control replacements.

Rather than defaulting on a direct system replacement, our team identified opportunities to reuse portions of the existing infrastructure to reduce cost and disruption. Where viable, existing ductwork and piping were retained and supplemented with new materials to support updated system requirements. This thoughtful hybrid approach allowed us to deliver improved comfort, flexibility, and performance while minimizing impact on the historic structure.

We Look Ahead

To modernize the facility and minimize disruption, Bassett implemented a flexible, efficient solution:

• Installed water‑source heat pumps, enabling the church to:
  • Reuse their existing two-pipe system
  • Achieving improved comfort and efficiency without a complete system overhaul
• Added an iVu® building automation system with IP-based controls:
  • The system now responds faster and more accurately
  • Control updates that once took 10 minutes now occur in seconds

These upgrades significantly increased system responsiveness, reliability, and long‑term serviceability.

Mike Pusnik, Facilities Manager at St. Joseph’s, said, “The iVu system has been a game changer for us. It’s very user-friendly and allows me to manage our systems from anywhere. The Bassett team is knowledgeable, understands the system inside and out, and took the time to walk us through it and make sure we were comfortable using it.”

We Deliver Complete Solutions

This project showcased Bassett Mechanical’s ability to deliver fully integrated, end-to-end solutions:

• AutoCAD design
• HVAC
• Building Automation & Controls (BAC)
• Metal Fabrication
• System start-up
• Maintenance & Service

“What made this project a success was the partnership. The Bassett team was willing to work alongside our crew and truly listen to our needs. Bassett is a company that can do it all—from HVAC to plumbing to controls and more. We didn’t want to work with multiple subcontractors because we knew the quality wouldn’t be consistent. By working with one company like Bassett, we gained consistency and a single point of contact throughout the project,” said Pusnik.

By combining modern heat pump technology with advanced controls and thoughtful system reuse, we created a solution that improved comfort, reliability, and day-to-day usability.

We are Creating Customers for Life®

The church especially appreciated our collaborative approach. Their team completed demolition work themselves, removing ceilings and preparing spaces, which allowed their budget to stretch further and enabled additional improvements that would not have been possible otherwise.

The result is a modernized HVAC and controls system that meets today’s performance needs and positions St. Joseph’s Church for years of reliable, efficient operation.

In addition to the system upgrades, St. Joseph’s Church continues to partner with Bassett Mechanical through a customized maintenance agreement. By taking advantage of Bassett’s flexible service agreement options, the church can proactively maintain its HVAC and control systems, ensuring they continue to operate reliably and efficiently. This ongoing support helps protect their investment, reduce unexpected issues, and keep the facility comfortable year‑round.

Ready to improve comfort, efficiency, and reliability in your facility? Our team is here to help you explore smart, cost‑effective solutions tailored to your building’s needs. Partner with Bassett Mechanical and experience the power of a truly integrated approach.