C.D.E. Heritage
C.D.E. Air Conditioning has been a mainstay in the New York City HVAC industry for over 80 years. With a tradition of teamwork and integrity, C.D.E. is moving forward toward its 100th year.
C.D.E. Air Conditioning Co., Inc. was founded in 1930 as Commercial Domestic Electric by Joseph F. Azara, Sr.. It was a one person operation that repaired electric appliances. In its early years, the company operated as a residential refrigerator repairer and the name quickly evolved to C.D.E. Refrigeration.
The company grew slowly and shifted to commercial reach-in refrigerators and then walk-in refrigerators. Joseph Azara continued as a mechanic and proprietor until the 1950’s, working in the shop during the day. In the evenings, after dinner and a change of clothes, he would go out to sell refrigeration.
One morning he came in to the shop and announced that “we got our first air conditioning job.” When questioned about his knowledge of air conditioning his response was “same thing, bigger room.” C.D.E. carved out a niche as the leading heating and air conditioning contractor for funeral homes in Brooklyn in the late nineteen-fifties using a signature design developed by Joseph, Sr..
In the sixties, a shift was made toward municipal work, largely with the Department of Public Works (DPW). Later, the DPW became the Department of General Services (DGS) and today is the Department of Design and Construction (DDC) and the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS).
Joseph F. Azara, Jr. became President in 1979 and is still the CEO. Today, C.D.E. does municipal HVAC work almost exclusively for many agencies including DEP, DDC, DCAS, DOS, DPR, DOT, EDC and HPD. Other clients include the TBTA, PANYNJ, HHC, NYCHA and DASNY.
Brian J. Azara joined the company after spending two years with Atkinson Koven Feinberg Engineers (AKF). He has assumed the position of Corporate Secretary. Brian is the “Third Generation” of Azaras in the HVAC business.