Cal Poly Students Explore HVAC&R Careers in SoCal

Seventeen students recently spent two busy days traveling around the LA area to network and learn about the HVAC&R industry. On May 19th they visited the SMART Facility for Sheet Metal Local Union 105 in the City of Industry and toured the training facilities, then attended the ASHRAE SoCal Student Night. At the Student Night four Cal Poly students received scholarships and a Cal Poly senior project team presented about their senior project work. On May 20th they toured Arup at the Wilshire Grand building in downtown LA, learning about various career paths in the industry and the intersection of sustainability and HVAC&R design. ASHRAE Student Branch officer Patricia Zamudio shares her experiences below.

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I enjoyed learning about Arup and the variety of interdisciplinary work they do such as the Sydney Opera House roof shell design and improving existing transit systems, all with a focus on sustainability. Their SoundLab provided our group with an auditory introduction to the field of acoustics engineering and how much detail goes into designing spaces like concert halls and transit systems. The interactive demonstrations showed how acoustics engineers layer and analyze different sound disruptions when designing public spaces. For example, they simulated subway announcements while adding overlapping noises like passing trains, running or movement, and crowd sounds to ensure the message would still remain clear and understandable in a real-world environment. When faced with projects like these, you really have to pause and think how cool it is how many different fields are really combined to make these large projects successful. From engineers, architects and artists, manufacturers, construction teams, collaboration is complex and vital for these implementations of creation.

We also visited the SMART Facility for Sheet Metal Local Union 105 in the City of Industry. Seeing the large-scale machining workshops in person gave me a new appreciation for the skill and craftsmanship involved in the HVAC&R industry, while also showing how there are different paths people can take to contribute to similar engineering goals. The facility had a strong welding focus, and it was impressive to see the precision and creativity involved in the work. One of the highlights for me was a dragon head sculpture that had been created through welding. It showed how technical skills are also a form of art, which made the experience feel much more personal and original.

Overall, this trip made me even more excited about studying mechanical engineering and working in industries connected to HVAC&R. My biggest takeaway was gaining a deeper appreciation for how much collaboration and planning goes into turning ideas into reality. I am very grateful for the opportunity to participate in trips like this because they provide an in-depth look at real engineering environments that help enhance classroom learning. Beyond the technical knowledge, experiences like these are valuable for students of any major because they help show the complexity, creativity, and teamwork behind the systems and structures we rely on every day, while also inspiring new ideas and future possibilities.