USD Engineering Students Power Up with Solar Energy Course

When Claire Gallagher and Jake Coleman first heard they'd be designing solar installations for the University of San Diego (USD), they had no idea their classroom project would provide them with a skill set for their future careers. Fast-forward to today, and Coleman will be starting an internship with Baker Electric this summer—a direct result of the concept he, Gallagher and their classmates developed for Torero Stadium, which they playfully dubbed the “Torero Shadium.”

The project was for a solar energy course taught by Susan Lord, PhD. The course is part of USD's integrated engineering program with a sustainability concentration. Initially, the course started as a technical deep-dive into photovoltaic systems, but quickly evolved into a project where students researched and compiled legitimate solar proposals for the USD Office of Sustainability.

“We weren’t necessarily focused on 3D modeling," explains Gallagher, a women's basketball player who graduated last weekend. "It was focused on understanding how solar panels would integrate with the campus's electricity grid and the real-world constraints we'd face."

Those constraints were eye-opening. While some students were curious as to why the university didn’t simply install solar panels across campus, they quickly discovered the complexities behind campus energy decisions.

"You can't just slap a solar panel on a roof without understanding if that's going to harm the building," Gallagher notes. "The weight-bearing load of panels is a challenge you have to think about.”

Coleman, a cross-country and track athlete completing his fifth year, was drawn to solar energy out of curiosity. "I thought it would be good to get one foot in the door in renewable energy and learn more,” he says. "It actually ended up being really, really interesting to me.”

Students spent the first half of the semester mastering technical fundamentals—how photons interact with panels, series versus parallel configurations and integration with electrical grids. The second half transformed them into solar consultants.

Working in small groups, students were assigned several different locations across campus to research and create a proposal for potential solar arrays in those areas. While other teams tackled projects like solar carports for the Vista’s parking lot, Gallagher and Coleman's group was assigned to Torero Stadium, which connected to their experiences as student-athletes.

"We know that area gets hot during soccer matches and football matches,” says Coleman. “It would be cool to have an awning there to help shade people while also adding the solar that our campus needed."

Their "Torero Shadium" concept addressed multiple challenges. Rather than simply installing rooftop panels on the existing fieldhouse, they envisioned a large-scale solar awning stretching over stadium seating—providing renewable energy while enhancing the spectator experience.

"It would be more like a stadium upgrade, rather than just for the return on investment for energy," Gallagher explains.

The research process proved more intense than typical coursework. Students had to research everything from panel specifications and electrical configurations to structural materials and installation costs. They struggled to find comparable projects at the collegiate level, mostly discovering examples from professional venues or smaller park installations.

"We really had to think about all the different aspects that go into these proposals," Coleman says. "We researched the kind of metal we'd use, how much it would weigh, what kind of angles, how many support structures we'd need."

Aesthetics emerged as another challenge. USD's cohesive Spanish architecture meant any installation would need approval before being built — a consideration the engineering students hadn't initially considered.

The projects received input from USD’s Director of Sustainability John Alejandro, Executive Director of University Design and Collections Mary Whelan and representatives from Baker Electric, who attended the final presentations. Students learned these weren't just academic exercises — their proposals could serve as backup plans for actual campus solar installations.

For Coleman, the course proved transformative. Alejandro helped him facilitate a conversation with Baker Electric about internship opportunities.

“Without this class, I never would’ve met John,” Coleman reflects. “Without John, I would’ve never landed this opportunity with Baker Electric. It all stemmed from Dr. Lord.”

Both students credit the experience with providing skills beyond technical engineering knowledge. They learned to navigate real-world constraints, communicate complex ideas effectively and collaborate on large-scale project development.

"I honestly cannot say the same for other classes," Coleman notes. "Most classes, you study for tests and that’s that. This class, I definitely learned a lot that I'll carry with me for a long time."

— Kelsey Grey ’15 (BA)