Biography

Connor Blood is currently a fifth year engineering student in the Architectural Engineering (AE) program at The Pennsylvania State University. He has attended University Park for the past five during which time, he selected to focus his studies more specifically on building mechanical systems. Connor plans on graduating in the Spring of 2011 at which point in time he will become an Engineer in Training (EIT). He will continue his career working for Ingersoll Rand in the Climate Solutions Sector of the company.

During his studies at Penn State, Connor has had the very unique opportunity and fortune to meet and work with two companies during his summer vacations. The first of his experiences was with CJL Engineering, a mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) company based out of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, also Connor’s hometown. For two summers, Connor worked for CJL as a mechanical intern, focusing most of his time working on LEED accreditation projects and eventually energy modeling as his experience progressed. During this time, Connor attained his LEED Accredited Professional status and more importantly, experience and relationships that would prove to be vital in his second internship and without a doubt, his professional career.

This past summer, Connor worked for Trane, a subsector of Ingersoll Rand. At Trane, Connor performed a wide range of tasks ranging from sizing and pricing equipment to physically repairing chillers with experienced service technicians. It was through his experiences with Trane that Connor came upon his senior thesis project, which was also his capstone project administered by Trane throughout the summer. The value of experience that Connor got from Trane was of wider variety than that of CJL due to the sheer quantity of projects that circulated around the office. It proved to be a great opportunity to understand different facets of the construction industry apart from working solely for a design firm. The true highlight of the summer for Connor was the opportunity to visit the Consol Energy Center, the new home of the Pittsburgh Penguins, throughout the end of the construction process.

Outside of the classroom, Connor is an avid hockey fan who once played for many years and continues to follow his favorite hometown team in the Penguins. Sports in general are a major part of Connor’s life and he tries as much as possible to stay up on current events within the sporting community. Connor also enjoys fly fishing, wakeboarding, and a variety of other outdoor sporting events.

Note: While great efforts have been taken to provide accurate and complete information on the pages of CPEP, please be aware that the information contained herewith is considered a work-in-progress for this thesis project. Modifications and changes related to the original building designs and construction methodologies for this senior thesis project are solely the interpretation of Connor Blood. Changes and discrepancies in no way imply that the original design contained errors or was flawed. Differing assumptions, code references, requirements, and methodologies have been incorporated into this thesis project; therefore, investigation results may vary from the original design.