From Rural Roots to Global Building Automation Expertise

Pradip Thorat's career path is a testament to his dedication and expertise in building automation engineering. Born and raised in rural Maharashtra, Thorat began working on clean-cooking technology for households in need. His early work focused on developing wood-gasifier cookstoves and testing indoor air pollution as part of a household energy programme.

Thorat's career transitioned from rural development to global engineering when he joined Praj Refrigeration Industries in 2006 as a design engineer. He later worked at Johnson Controls (India) for eight years, where his experience grew exponentially. His projects spanned the Doha Convention Center and Tower, Sidra Medical and Research Centre, and commissions at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai.

Thorat continued to climb the corporate ladder at Honeywell Automation from 2016 to 2022, taking ownership of complete HVAC and BAS designs for clients including Syserco in Fremont, California. His work spanned a Tacoma aquarium, a Nashville VA chiller plant, an Army depot in Pennsylvania, and Walmart's grocery refrigeration systems in Arkansas.

Thorat's emphasis on reusing existing field devices, wiring, and panel enclosures has been a consistent theme throughout his career. He believes that tearing down old mechanical rooms and starting over is rarely the sustainable choice. His philosophy is reflected in his book 'Building Automation System: Design, Integration and Practice' published in August 2026.