As politely as possible my rebuttle to you comment. The practical you need to properly design complex integrated systems comes not only from a course of studies in your chosen field but from practical knowledge. This practical experience is something sorely lacking in american education.
As a contractor who has to implement designs I will tell you the best designers are the ones with hands on experience and ones with a relationship to tools, techniques, and real world realities.
The absolute worst to work with are the office, I never get my hands dirty because it’s beneath my station in life types. They may produce great stand alone systems, but usually are not able to be integrated in real world applications.
Sort of like progressive thinking, sounds good to most of us on paper (equal outcomes for all imposed by fiat, no strife, ect) but falls far short in the real life practicum.
To properly size and design an HVAC system all you need are the building specs and blue prints. You don’t ever have to visit the sight or be involved in the construction. I designed a grain storage and handling facility for a Kenyan Ag Conglomerate. I never went to Africa never even saw the finished facility. I was paid to do a job, design a facility. When I was done I went on the the next project. THere is a big misunderstanding what a design engineer does.