Inspiring STEM Across America | Stanford to Alameda

Our road trip to find Inspiring STEM Across America continues! Merely six hours north of Stanford brings us to Alameda, California. One unique tourist destination we are hoping to check out is the Pacific Pinball Museum, home of dozens of playable pinball machines from throughout the decades. Bring on the Belvita Crunchy Breakfast Biscuits, “AOK” by Tai Verdes, and the nostalgia, because we are playing some pinball!

Once we have slaked our thirst for the good ole’ days, we hit the road to find Steve Taylor, principal of Taylor Engineering in Alameda, CA. A graduate of Stanford University with over 40 years of commercial HVAC, control system design, and construction experience, Taylor is one of very few to have received all of ASHRAE’s top awards for technical achievement.

ASHRAE, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers, was not always the global society focused on building systems that we know today. 75 charter members founded the American Society of Heating and Ventilation Engineers in 1894; just ten years later, the American Society of Refrigerating Engineers was formed with these words from inaugural president John E. Starr:

“We have started on a mission similar to that which other great societies in the engineering world are so ably accomplishing, and considering that our particular scope of operation touches on almost every department of human interest, our aims, if attained at all, must be reached by manful, honest effort. The Grail of the engineer must be first and last – The Truth [sic].”

In 1959 these two societies merged to become ASHRAE, which, through research, standards writing, publishing, and continuing education, has become a leader in creating sustainable built environments, with chapters all over the world.

To that end, Steve Taylor was one of the primary authors of the HVAC sections of ASHRAE Standard 90.1 “Energy Conservation in New Non-residential Buildings” and California’s Title 24 Energy Standards and Ventilation Standards. His contributions also include authoring over 40 peer-reviewed ASHRAE Journal articles and technical papers and chairing many committees and projects.

Taylor also supports the students at California State University as a longtime member of the CSU Mechanical Review Board, thus far providing peer reviews of over fifty CSU mechanical designs including those at Chico, East Bay, Fresno, Fullerton, Humboldt, Maritime, Monterey Bay, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, San Marcos, Sonoma, and Stanislaus campuses.

As we say goodbye to Steve Taylor in Alameda, California and look forward to the final legs of our journey, we are struck by the commitment he and our other innovators have had to their various STEM fields. It is one thing to strive for excellence inside your own company, but it takes passion to respond to the call to serve the whole industry. Whether it’s crafting standards for “Energy Conservation in New Non-residential Buildings” or reviewing projects submitted by engineering students, Steve Taylor has provided that “manful, honest effort,” espoused by John Starr, to advancing the built environment for all.

KMC Controls is an independent and family-owned manufacturer of turn-key solutions based in New Paris, Indiana. For the last fifty years, KMC Controls has remained dedicated to the American ideals of quality and innovation, focusing on intuitive solutions created by responsive and supportive people.

Consider us your Building Geniuses® who are building geniuses, one blog post at a time! KMC is dedicated to inspiring interest in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Join us for the next two weeks as we learn more about Inspiring STEM Across America.