2015 40 Under 40: Sam Allen, PE, LEED AP BD+C, 31

Sam Allen, PE, LEED AP BD+C, 31 Senior Mechanical Engineer, AECOM, Columbus, Ohio BS Mechanical Engineering, Ohio State University

Allen began his HVAC career as a designer for Heapy Engineering, Columbus, Ohio, while attending Ohio State University. After graduating, he quickly moved into designing large complex mechanical systems-including one of the largest geothermal fields in central Ohio. From there he went on to manage a mechanical team at KLH Engineers in Columbus. At age 29, he was promoted to senior associate. KLH leadership cited his dedication, technical excellence, and client satisfaction as reasons for the promotion, which was a precursor to KLH ownership, and which afforded him voting privileges on the board of directors. In 2013, he accepted a position at Columbus-based AECOM (previously URS) as senior mechanical engineer. Working primarily in the data center field, he is currently the lead mechanical engineer for a 1.1 million-sq-ft, 128 MW prototype data center project. He approaches his design with the people and the communities who will actually use the buildings in mind. Allen volunteers with various organizations, recently speaking in high schools about the HVAC industry. He has served on the executive leadership teams for the local professional organizations of ASHRAE, USGBC, and the Ohio State Solar Decathlon Team. He organized and led other volunteers to help hurricane-affected areas of Mississippi through Habitat for Humanity/PDA. And in his spare time, he has maintained his long-standing title of Concord Softball’s "strike-out king" for his legendary whiffs and failures-to-connect with perfect pitches in the leagues that he has organized, recruited, and coached.

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