Latest News
HVAC&R concentration Update
This year marks a major milestone: 20 years of the Mechanical Engineering HVAC&R Concentration as well as the 20th Annual Cal Poly HVAC&R Fundraiser!
We kicked off our celebration with the Women in ME/ASHRAE Dinner on October 9, where more than 60 students joined industry professionals and faculty for an evening of networking and inspiration. The event fostered meaningful connections, highlighted diverse career paths in HVAC&R, and encouraged students to prepare for the transition from school to professional life.
The excitement continued with our HVAC&R Industry Showcase on Friday, October 10, which saw record-breaking student attendance! Over 300 students connected with representatives from 35+ companies across the HVAC&R industry. The Showcase remains one of the most valuable opportunities for students to explore career options, find internships and full-time positions, and learn firsthand about the HVAC&R industry.
Our 20th Anniversary Dinner Celebration honored our sponsors and supporters who helped raise $150,000 for the Cal Poly HVAC&R Program—funds that will sustain our tradition of excellence in undergraduate HVAC&R education. During the evening, Steffen presented the rich history of HVAC&R education at Cal Poly, tracing its roots back to 1936, when the first Air Conditioning Industries courses and technical certificates were established. More historic pictures can be found in our Cal Poly HVAC&R Through the Years Photo Gallery. He also shared a look ahead at several exciting milestones:
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2027 – 90 years of the A/C Club at Cal Poly
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2030 – 90 years of HVAC&R Engineering and 70 years of the Cal Poly ASHRAE Student Branch
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2036 – 100 years of HVAC&R education at Cal Poly
The weekend concluded with a day of sunshine and fun, as alumni, faculty, and students enjoyed golfing, wine tasting, and mountain biking in true Cal Poly spirit.
Looking ahead, our ASHRAE Student Club Fall Field Trip will include attending the San Jose ASHRAE Chapter Student Night, along with a visit to local HVAC&R company and job site—offering students valuable industry exposure.
As we enter the new year, we are excited to launch the Net-Zero Design Competition 2026 and host our first Cal Poly HVAC&R Conference in collaboration with NASRC on April 17, 2026: Student Experience & Career Networking – The Future of Cooling: From Everyday Life to Global Impact.
Stay tuned and check our Events tab regularly for updates on these and other upcoming opportunities to connect, learn, and celebrate with the Cal Poly HVAC&R community.
- Steffen Peuker,
- Professor, HVAC&R Director and IAB Liaison
- 805-756-1353
- speuker@calpoly.edu
Project Spotlight
Senior Design - ASHRAE Student Design Competition
Students were tasked to present the methods and decisions that went into selecting an HVAC system for a single-story laboratory facility in Cairo, Egypt. This 2,515 m2 (27,000 ft2) new construction contains a variety of rooms, including wet bench labs, dry bench computational labs, research support offices, a common area for circulation, a break room, and an atrium reception area. The owner specified building requirements including a budget, operating hours, and a space function analysis.
Upcoming Events
Networking with Southland Industries
Scott Ficken and/or Sarah Sullivan from Southland Industries will present on healthcare projects Southland has constructed over the past 5–10 years. The presentation will cover HVAC design considerations specific to hospitals and specialized laboratories, as well as an overview of Southland’s company culture and career opportunities.
Date: Thursday, January 22nd
Location: 13-124 (HVAC&R lab)
Time: 11:10am
2026 Net Zero Design and Construction-a-thon
Sign up to be a part of the Net Zero Design and Construction-a-Thon competition on January 23–25, 2026. Students from all majors and class levels are encouraged to be a part of the competition.
Students will be assigned to multi-disciplinary teams. Each team will additional have an industry mentor. Sign up by January 20 for full consideration. You will be notified by January 21 if you are selected to be on a team.
Weekend Schedule:
Friday, January 23: 5-7 pm, MIXER Location Milestone
Mixer with all students, industry sponsors, judges, and mentors. Team assignments announced. Appetizer food and drinks provided.
Saturday, January 24—location: meet at Engineering Building 13, Room 117, at 7:45 a.m. for a problem statement and room assignment.
Breakfast and Lunch provided.
8 a.m., problem statement handed out, and start of competition.
4pm, written problem solution due
Sunday, January 25 – Location – Engineering Building 13, Room 117
Breakfast and Lunch provided. 8am-12pm: Project Presentations (specific presentation times will be assigned for each team) 12pm-1:30pm Lunch and awards ceremony
