Our Team
David Layton, PE, LEED AP
Principal | Mechanical Engineer | Firm Leader
David is a Principal and Mechanical Engineering Group Manager at Sage Engineering with more than 30 years of experience in HVAC, plumbing, and fire protection systems for institutional and industrial facilities. He provides firmwide leadership in design, quality control, and coordination and serves as a senior technical advisor on complex projects. His expertise includes sustainable design, heat pump systems, decarbonization strategies, central plant design, campus energy distribution, and modernization of steam, high-temperature hot water, and chilled water systems. He also serves as the firm’s internal authority on building codes and client design standards.
Representative Projects
Net Zero Building Renovation – 504 Broadway, Troy, NY
David served as Lead Mechanical and Project Manager for the 19,800 SF redevelopment of a 1960s building into a Net Zero Energy facility. The $10M all-electric project incorporated geothermal boreholes, geothermal-to-VRF distribution, energy recovery ventilation with demand control, and geothermal domestic hot water generation.
New Medium Heating Plant – Marcy Correctional Facility, Marcy, NY
Served as Lead Engineer and Project Manager for the $7.3 million replacement of the facility’s central heating plant. The project included a medium temperature hot water plant with four 12.3 MMBTU/hr dual-fuel boilers, integrated controls, and fuel oil storage and distribution systems.
Aboveground Heating Distribution System – Lakeview Shock Facility, Brocton, NY
Served as Lead Engineer and Project Manager for this $14.5 million campus infrastructure project replacing the underground heating system with approximately 4,700 LF of aboveground primary hot water distribution and building heat exchanger upgrades.
Boiler and Controls Upgrades – Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, NY
Serves as Lead Engineer and Project Manager for the modernization of a central steam plant serving two correctional facilities. The project includes replacement of a 600 HP boiler, combustion and controls upgrades with SCADA integration, and installation of a new deaerator and feedwater system.
Replace High Temperature Hot Water Generator – SUNY Plattsburgh, NY
Served as Lead Engineer and Project Manager for the replacement of a high temperature hot water generator within an active campus central plant. The project included installation of a 50 MMBH dual-fuel generator and associated piping, valves, and plant controls modifications.
HVAC & Energy Efficiency Upgrades, NYS Military Museum, Saratoga Springs, NY
As Lead Mechanical Engineer and Project Manager, directed modernization of the Saratoga Armory Museum HVAC systems, constructed over three phases with a total construction value of $5.6M. Work included replacement of the steam heating system, installation of a central air handler, four-pipe fan coil units and chiller, upgraded ventilation, high-efficiency boilers, and HVAC service to administrative areas while maintaining SHPO compliance.
Repair Steel Cell Back, A&B Block, Building 5, Auburn, NY
Project Manager and Lead Mechanical Engineer for the $33M rehabilitation of Building 5 at Auburn Correctional Facility, upgrading 610 cells in A and B Blocks. Scope included replacement of deteriorated steel walls, stainless steel plumbing fixtures, domestic and sanitary piping, electronic plumbing controls, LED lighting, power and audio systems, and installation of a new shower exhaust system.