With Robert Holman joining #TeamBSE in May of this year, we took some time to sit down for a chat and get to know him better. In this Q&A, Robert shares what drew him to BSE along with his career journey so far.
What attracted you to BSE?
What really drew me to BSE was the opportunity to establish and lead the vertical transportation discipline across a national business, with the full support of a team that genuinely values quality and practical delivery.
What can clients expect when working with you?
A collaborative approach that considers all aspects of the design—redundancy, accessibility, maintenance, goods and furniture movement—all underpinned by a level of service tailored to the needs of the project and the end users.
How can you contribute to BSE’s growth?
My passion to grow the BSE business and team, leading, mentoring, guiding, and developing future generations of consulting engineers.
Can you tell us more about your career?
I’ve spent my entire professional career specialising in vertical transportation consulting. During that time, I’ve had the privilege of working with tier 1 companies across a wide range of projects and sectors throughout Australia and the Asia-Pacific. I’ve also worked with some fantastic clients, including QIC, Gurner, Marriott, Thirdi, CBUS, and Queensland Health. This breadth of experience has helped me understand how to tailor vertical transportation solutions to suit each project’s unique needs.
What are some challenging projects you’ve worked on?
Some standout and challenging projects include 101 Albert Street, La Pelago, and Park Lane.
101 Albert Street is a premium commercial development with a main lobby located two levels above ground, which meant wayfinding and direct lift access were critical. Pedestrian modelling helped guide the design of the lift lobby and speed gates.
La Pelago is a high-rise residential tower with a boutique hotel embedded mid-structure. Given the high traffic demands of the hotel, we introduced a sky lobby serviced by express lifts, preventing hotel traffic from impacting the residential floors below. We were also able to stack the hotel and residential lifts vertically and used a TWIN system to allow two independently operating lift cars within the same shaft, saving several unserviceable floors.
Park Lane is a super-tall residential tower that required high-speed lifts to meet service expectations, including journey time. Additional challenges included building sway, piston effect, and lift car pressurisation—all of which were managed through close collaboration with VT contractors and early design planning.
How did you overcome these challenges?
It came down to early coordination and a willingness to explore different lifting strategies. We worked closely with architects and consultants to refine the arrangements, supported by traffic modelling to test how each option would perform. By understanding peak demand and user flow, I was able to recommend solutions that balanced performance, space, and cost. I also worked hand-in-hand with VT contractors to incorporate modern technologies like destination control, TWIN systems, and high-speed lifts.
What’s Robert like outside of work?
Outside of work, life’s full-on—in the best way. I’ve got four young kids, including twin 10-month old boys, so my house is very energetic. I love watching the Brisbane Lions, sitting around a campfire, firing up the BBQ, or heading out for a run. I’m currently training for my second half marathon, which I’ll be running at the end of July.
Thanks for chatting with us, Robert! We’re glad to have you on the team and can’t wait to see the great things you’ll do in your role as BSE’s National Team Leader – Vertical Transportation. Welcome again!
