Trane Inc.

We are an AACPS: Business Partnership | 2020 Business Partner of the Year Nominee

Recognized for their support of AACPS by the Center of Applied Technology North

Working with AACPS Facilities Division, school staff and students from the HVAC, Plumbing, Electricity, and Building Maintenance programs, Trane, Inc. implemented an on-site training facility at CAT North. Through multiple presentations and inclusion in the installation of a Variable Refrigerant Flow system, Center of Applied Technology North students received a “value added” experience as they worked alongside Trane & AACPS technicians during the installation phase of the project. Training sessions on project management and project site management took the students’ experience well beyond just the installation phase of the project. They were provided with information about project development, decision making, and fall protection training specific to working from scaffolds needed during the installation. 

Trane’s partnership in this endeavor not only enhanced the HVAC curriculum, it also resulted in a complete system that will be used for years to teach diagnostics and maintenance to future students and AACPS Maintenance technicians. Trane went above and beyond with this partnership, donating a total of $36,000 in equipment and 400 hours of labor! 

The students enrolled in the CTE programs that were involved in the installation and training sessions associated with this experience got a good look inside the world of industry practices. They were able to meet adults that work at a variety of levels in a major national company (technician-project management-sales-operations). Since the equipment installed is a state-of-the-art Variable Refrigeration System (VRF), Center of Applied Technology North students will be able to view equipment operations both locally in the classroom and remotely using a web connected device. The VRF system serves multiple purposes, offering students a hands-on learning experience; training AACPS maintenance personnel for efficient facility operations; providing reliable cooling and precise temperature control to ensure a comfortable learning environment for three classrooms/labs.