Purdue students in the electrical design for commercial buildings course in Indianapolis got a firsthand look at how multidisciplinary teams bring commercial buildings to life, thanks to a guest panel of industry professionals hosted on May 1.
Course instructors David Bunch of C.M. Buck and Seth Mathis of Schmidt Associates brought in five professionals who shared their career paths and described how their roles intersect during the design and construction process:
- Eric Broemel, principal-in-charge of the MEPT engineering group at Schmidt Associates
- Brad Brutout, project manager at Schmidt Associates
- Andrew Eckrich, mechanical engineer specializing in HVAC at Schmidt Associates
- Krystlyn Lee, architectural landscaper at Schmidt Associates
- Daniel Levitus, senior structural engineer at Lynch, Harrison & Brumleve
Students learned about the responsibilities of each role and how collaboration between disciplines—like electrical, mechanical, structural and landscaping—is essential to delivering safe, efficient and functional buildings.
“This event gave our students an invaluable look into how real-world professionals collaborate to solve complex design challenges,” said Robert Weissbach, professor of engineering technology.
The course, part of Purdue’s applied technology curriculum in Indianapolis, combines lecture-based learning with hands-on lab experiences using Revit software. Students learn how to design and place electrical systems that are both practical and compliant with National Electrical Code standards.