A fan coil block of the present invention preferably includes a fan for drawing air and a cooling device for cooling air drawn by the fan. A flexible air handling system of the present invention preferably includes a fan coil block that is supportable overhead by an overhead support system. The present invention is also directed to an air handling method that includes the steps of providing an overhead support system for supporting overhead devices, defining a return air chase within the interior space of a building, and supporting a fan coil block above or within the return air chase using the overhead support system. The fan coil block draws and cools air from the return air chase and returns the cooled air to a plenum above the overhead support system.