An air handling unit for a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration system wherein the exhaust air is drawn away from the return air flow by one or more fans located cantilevered on a wall of the air handling unit. The one or more fans may be located within an exhaust hood, through which the exhaust air exits the air handling unit. This air handling unit has a shorter length through elimination of an exhaust fan section. The exhaust air may be drawn through an exhaust damper before being driven into the exhaust hood by the one or more fans. A method can include drawing an exhaust airflow through an exhaust damper, using fans positioned cantilevered on a wall of the air handling unit and directing the exhaust airflow into an exhaust hood mounted on the side wall of the air handling unit.