Crease HVAC, a Rochester-based specialty heating, ventilation, and air conditioning contractor, is expanding operations with a major relocation and facility upgrade. The company announced plans to move from its current 7,000-square-foot West Avenue facility in Rochester to a new 31,000-square-foot location in Henrietta, representing a facility expansion of over 340 percent. The $835,000 project received approval from the Monroe County Industrial Development Agency (COMIDA) on November 24, 2025, with a sales tax exemption of $37,200.
Owner Kevin Bischoping took control of the company—originally named Great Lakes Ornamental Iron—five years ago. When he completed the full acquisition in 2020, the business had already shifted from ornamental ironwork to specialized HVAC ductwork. The name change to Crease HVAC reflected the company's focused market positioning and Bischoping's personal passion for hockey (a goaltender's crease).
Crease HVAC specializes exclusively in the "air side" of HVAC systems—the ducting, ventilation, and air handling components that regulate airflow in buildings. This specialization distinguishes the firm from full-service contractors who provide heating, cooling, and air work. By maintaining this focused approach, Crease HVAC positions itself as a valued specialist rather than a competitor to the general contractors that hire them.
"We're possibly the last or one of the last companies that only does the air side," Bischoping told the Rochester Business Journal in November 2025. "We've decided to remain that lone company and that way we're not competing with our customers. Since we only do air, we're now a valued asset for them."
The majority of Crease HVAC's work involves K-12 school facility projects, particularly air system installations and upgrades in school buildings throughout the Rochester region. The company regularly performs work for school districts including Gates Chili, Brighton, Hilton, Penn Yan, Mount Morris, and Kendall. The work is time-sensitive, typically performed during summer and holiday breaks when schools are closed, allowing the company to complete significant projects within compressed 10-week windows.
"We're doing six months of work in 10 weeks during the summer," Bischoping explained. This compressed timeline reflects the operational constraints of school facility work—projects must be completed before students return, creating intense but predictable seasonal demand.
Given the scale of Rochester's ongoing school modernization project—which recently received $125 million in additional state funding from Governor Hochul—specialized HVAC contractors like Crease HVAC are positioned to capture significant work opportunities as school districts upgrade their facilities.
Currently, Crease HVAC employs between 20 and 22 people. The expanded 31,000-square-foot Henrietta facility will enable the company to:
Bischoping noted that current operations have reached capacity: "We literally don't have a place to put a desk in our current building." The new facility addresses this limitation while providing room for planned growth initiatives.
Crease HVAC generates approximately $5 million in annual revenue, according to Bischoping's projections for 2025. Despite the company's modest size relative to national HVAC firms, Bischoping has secured a leadership position in the industry. He serves on the technical resource committee and HVAC resource committee of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association, putting him at the table with representatives from major metropolitan markets including Cleveland, Detroit, Philadelphia, and Texas.
"Here's a little guy with the $5 million in revenue we'll do this year at the table with people from Cleveland, Detroit, Philadelphia and Texas," Bischoping said. "The Texas firm, they just bid on a $1.5 billion project. But we get to have a say, a voice with these companies and represent an area that is sometimes overlooked. And it's nice to know me and the big guys have the same problems."
While growth presents opportunities, Bischoping emphasized his commitment to maintaining company culture. "I enjoy knowing everybody that works for me, really getting to know them," he said. However, he acknowledges that rapid growth creates challenges for maintaining that personal connection.
"We work hard at our culture, we try to make it a place where employees are proud of what they do," Bischoping stated. "We've become a place where people are seeking us out to come to work." The new facility and planned hiring are designed to support this cultural foundation while enabling expansion.
Reflecting on his initial hesitation about aggressive growth, Bischoping noted a philosophical shift: "I've learned not to put limits on where we could be in 10 years." The Henrietta facility expansion reflects this evolved perspective.
Crease HVAC's expansion exemplifies the broader health of the Rochester construction market, particularly in specialized trades. The company's growth from 6-8 employees five years ago to 20-22 employees today demonstrates sustained demand for quality HVAC services in the region. The planned addition of a project manager and office administrator positions represents opportunity for skilled trades management professionals seeking career advancement.
The company's specialization strategy—remaining focused exclusively on air-side HVAC—provides a model for other specialty trade contractors seeking to differentiate and maintain competitive advantage. By developing deep expertise in a specific market segment and building strong relationships with general contractors, specialty firms like Crease HVAC create sustainable business models even at smaller scales.
With $1 billion in school modernization funding now approved, major infrastructure investment in Rochester's water and utility systems, and continued commercial real estate development, demand for quality HVAC and mechanical contractors is expected to remain strong. Companies like Crease HVAC that maintain quality standards and specialized expertise are well-positioned to capture this work.
Source: Rochester Business Journal, "Net win: Rochester's Crease HVAC scores as specialty subcontractor," November 26, 2025 by Kevin Oklobzija; Monroe County Industrial Development Agency (COMIDA)
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