Daikin Applied has broken ground on a $30 million Solutions & Technical Institute in Plymouth, Minnesota, to support workforce development for commercial and industrial HVAC. The company said the facility will provide hands-on learning with live commercial equipment for technical, engineering, sales and service talent.
The institute is expected to open in 2027 and will serve as a centralized hub for employee, partner and customer training. Daikin Applied said the facility will include more than 50 fully functional Daikin HVAC units for troubleshooting and system-level learning.
The planned curriculum includes up to 120 training pathways focused on advanced controls, diagnostics, system optimization and sustainable technologies. The facility will also include a digital studio to extend training access to teams, customers and partners globally.
The learning environment will include nine classrooms and six breakout spaces across 64,000 square feet (approx. 5,946 m²), with the ability to expand by an additional 40,000 square feet (approx. 3,716 m²). The investment complements Daikin Applied’s $163 million research and development test lab in Plymouth, also slated to open in 2027.
“The demands placed on our industry are evolving rapidly and workforce capability has become a true differentiator,” said Yu Nishiwaki, Chief Operating Officer for Daikin Applied. “The Daikin Applied Solutions & Technical Institute reflects our commitment to developing the next generation of technical, engineering, service and sales talent while helping our customers succeed in an increasingly complex environment. We are investing in the people, knowledge and capabilities that will power the future of our industry.”
