The ASHRAE Georgia Tech Student Branch is proud to host the 2026 ASHRAE Region IV Student Summit on October 16 and 17 at the Georgia Tech Global Learning Center. This is the first ASHRAE Region IV Student Summit ever held at Georgia Tech, and it brings together students from universities across the Southeast with engineers, designers, contractors and manufacturers who shape the built environment.
Theme: The Future of HVAC and Building Systems: Bridging the Gap Between Research and Practice
What to expect
Educational sessions and panels in two tracks: HVAC in Practice (Designing the Built Environment) and Research and Innovation (Shaping What's Next)
An industry career fair with employers from across the region, including Automated Logic, Cullum Mechanical, Mingledorff's, Lincoln Associates, Knauf, Whole Building Systems, JMP Engineered Building Solutions, Holder Construction, Shultz Engineering Group, Triad Mechanical Contractors, Setty, Carrier and Moseley, with more to be announced
Keynote presentations over breakfast, lunch and dinner
A student research competition with final presentations on Saturday, with funding awarded to the winners for research in sustainability and building technologies
Networking with students from neighboring universities and with local design and industry partners
Friday, October 16, Georgia Tech Global Learning Center
9:00 AM to 10:00 AM: Registration and breakfast
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM: Welcome and keynote, The Future of HVAC and Building Systems: Bridging Research and Practice
11:15 AM to 12:15 PM: Concurrent sessions. Track A: Building Mechanical System Design. Track B: Building Systems Optimization
12:30 PM to 2:00 PM: Lunch and Learn, Resume, Interviews and Etiquette
2:15 PM to 3:15 PM: Concurrent sessions. Track A: Owner Challenges and Code Minimum Design. Track B: Integrated Systems Case Study
3:30 PM to 5:00 PM: Industry Career Fair
6:00 PM to 7:30 PM: Dinner and Learn, Professional Society Involvement, at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center
Saturday, October 17, Georgia Tech Global Learning Center
7:30 AM to 8:30 AM: Breakfast
8:30 AM to 9:30 AM: Session 3, Technology, Built Environment and Wellbeing
9:45 AM to 12:15 PM: Student Competition Final Presentations
12:30 PM to 2:00 PM: Lunch and Learn, The Various Roles of the Engineering Community
2:15 PM to 3:15 PM: Session 4, From Academic Research to Industry: A Real-World Startup Case Study
3:30 PM to 5:00 PM: Conference wrap-up and award announcements
Who should attend
The summit is open to all Georgia Tech students and to students from universities across ASHRAE Region IV. Students in mechanical engineering, building construction, architecture, civil and environmental engineering, and related fields will find the sessions most directly relevant, but all majors are welcome and no prior experience with ASHRAE is needed.
Registration
Registration is required for all attendees through the ASHRAE Atlanta Chapter: https://www.ashraeatlanta.org/event-6749666
Georgia Tech students: select the Local Atlanta Student Registration ticket. There is no fee for local Atlanta students who do not need a hotel room on Friday night.
Students traveling from other Region IV schools: select the Non Local Student Registration ticket, which carries a $50.00 non-refundable registration fee. Scholarships are available for 80 traveling students and cover a one-night stay at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center on Friday, October 16 plus a one-year ASHRAE student membership, a combined value of $300. Priority goes to full-time students who are active members of their ASHRAE student branch.
Georgia Tech students are especially encouraged to attend the Industry Career Fair on Friday from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM. Bring copies of your resume.
Hosted by the ASHRAE Georgia Tech Student Branch with support from the ASHRAE Atlanta Chapter and our summit sponsors. Questions can be directed to the ASHRAE Georgia Tech Student Branch at gatech.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/ashrae.