2020 Project Highlights

As we embark on our 2021 journey, we asked some of our teams to recall their 2020 projects. Those that they were most excited to deliver and what in-progress projects inspire them. Some of our prominent projects are listed below:

St Mary Mackillop Administration Building in Canberra - completed

Government department office fitout - completed and award shortlisted in Melbourne

Woolworths building condition reports, across NSW & QLD - ongoing

Bank Street Marina in Sydney - completed

Mona Vale Primary School – ongoing

Garema Place & City Walk public realm in Canberra – completed

Chatswood Education Precinct – competed

Boandik (SA) Aged Care, Mt Gambier – ongoing

RAAF Edinburgh building refurbishment works – ongoing

Canberra Data Centre in Hume, ACT - completed

Ernst & Young Melbourne office fitout – ongoing

The Star, Sovereign Resort, Sydney - completed

SCG Infrastructure upgrades and new SFS stadium – ongoing

Bunnings sustainability upgrade program - ongoing

Goulburn Hospital Redevelopment Peer Review – ongoing

Midtown Centre commercial development in Brisbane – ongoing

Martha Cove mixed use development in Victoria – ongoing

WeWork Eagle Street co-working space in Brisbane – completed

Fairmont Resort, Port Douglas in Queensland – ongoing

Garema Place & City Walk public realm, Canberra

Chatswood Education Precinct

Boandik (SA) Aged Care, Mt Gambier

The Star, Sydney

SCG Infrastructure upgrades and new SFS stadium

Goulburn Hospital Redevelopment Peer Review

Midtown Centre, Brisbane

Martha Cove mixed use development, Victoria

WeWork, Eagle Street, Brisbane

Fairmont Resort, Port Douglas

 Team BSE is excitedly expecting another busy year in 2021 with work planned in education, commercial, hospitality, infrastructure and other sectors.  

End of year message from Andrew Fraser, CEO

As we farewell a year unlike any other, our team have reflected on 2020, and the 26th year of BSE!

While we don’t know exactly what 2021 has instore, our team’s passion for projects, adaptability and courage in moving forward will make it an adventure worth having.

Personal note from CEO, Andrew Fraser:

“Never has the support of our team members, our clients and our project partners been as essential to BSE as they have been this year. I wrote of 2019 being a year of growth and change and it turns out that 2020 has been a year of endurance and conviction.

Our incredible teams have continued to deliver outstanding project results whilst adapting to the new norms. Most importantly we have all still been able to squeeze in some fun!

BSE’s primary areas of growth in 2020 have been:
• the opening of our new Adelaide multi-discipline office
• The formation of a dedicated national ICT team to expand and enhance our existing ICT service offerings, and
• The formation of our new national Acoustics team

It has been a challenging year for all of us and I am incredibly proud of how our teams, leaders and Directors have adapted, innovated and adjusted to keep BSE steady and stable which has enabled us to meet all of our commitments.

I wish our clients and project partners a happy Christmas and a safe and hopeful New Year!
”

— Andrew Fraser

#TBT Throwback Thursday to Suez

A global leader in water and waste, Suez embraced their own vision for an energic and contemporary space for their growing team while effectively communicating the Suez brand identity. The project team delivered this vision through incorporating natural elements, focusing on inclusivity and comfort to provide harmony within the new space. With the on-brand emphasis being eco-friendly allowed the innovative and well-planned use of cost-effective material to minimise waste during installation and construction; Suez now have a connected, modern space aligning their workplace to their operational vision.

 This space spread over two-floors commercial office (approximately 4,000m2), including collaborative workspaces, breakout areas and private meeting rooms to the client’s specific and innovative ‘wish-list’. With an environmental and sustainable focus on operational efficiency BSE provided electrical, hydraulic, fire and mechanical services engineering from concept design through to construction services and inspections, partnering with Engine Room VM, RFA Architects & Schiavello Construction to deliver this project on time and on budget.

Image attribution: EngineRoom + Schiavello 

Out & About

Yesterday evening, BSE along with project partners INDESCO and Willowtree Planning welcomed guests at a joint event in North Sydney.

As our NSW teams are all based in North Sydney and partner together on projects delivery, we took the opportunity to bring our teams and clients together for some end of year cheer.

A great way to end a challenging year with our colleagues, project partners and good friends!
Our team sends special thanks to Salina Lama of Indesco for the organisation of the event.

#TBT - Throwback to Henry Schein Halas

Location: 185 – 191 O’Riordan St, Mascot

This partnership with NettletonTribe and INTREC revolved around the design and fitout of new office space for Henry Schein Halas, a leading American Company supplying dental and veterinary equipment and supplies. Henry Schein Halas detailed their requirements for the space as a progressive 4.5 Green Star/ NABERS use of an existing building in Mascot. Requiring elements of ABW workplace strategies, the area is a generous 2000m2 of open plan desks, offices, 60pax conference room, 16pax board and multiple meeting rooms, team breakout areas, with display and demonstration areas available for visitors and public. The project had a total budget over $3M.

BSE delivered our full suite of building services scope across concept design, detailed and tender documentation, construction documentation, services during construction and defects liability stages to ensure NettletonTribe’s vision for the Henry Schein Halas space was successful. Our design and engineering team utilised our thorough scope and design process, comprehensive coordination tools to ensure the space met the design intent and provided Henry Schein Halas with purposeful and effective space. Services delivered were mechanical with compressed air and suction, electrical – power and data, fire protection, hydraulic, GreenStar and NABERS, with value added coordination with AV specialists.  

Images courtesy of NettletonTribe

International Men's Day

To mark International Men’s Day this year we asked our team to reflect on 2020’s theme of “better health for men and boys”:

Andrew Fraser

As a late baby boomer, I grew up in a period when boys were meant to ‘act like men’ and not show any emotion. I then started my professional career as a cadet engineer in the building industry, a profession and an industry that have always been short on emotional appreciation and understanding. My long-suffering wife has spent the last 30 years ‘coaching’ me in the finer skills of emotional intelligence. This has strongly assisted me to mould the BSE attitudes and culture such that they are always appreciative, considerate and respectful of the mental health and wellbeing of all our team members.

Godfrey Frederick

International Men’s Day has its deserved place in our societies. The importance of improving gender relations, promoting gender equality, and highlighting positive male role models is so important. My favourite quote is from a very inspirational person:

“Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again” - Nelson Mandela

Tim O’Regan

The quote I live by (before I knew it was a quote by someone), it is a constant reminder to approach challenges with an effective way and focus on positive mental health:

“If there is no solution to the problem then don't waste time worrying about it. If there is a solution to the problem then don't waste time worrying about it.”

― The Dalai Lama

BSE’s commitment is to provide a positive, inclusive and passionate workforce, where our team members can develop and grow knowledge and be recognised in contribution to great project outcomes.

 More info:

https://internationalmensday.com/

Luxury Lobby at 607 Bourke Street

Located in the busy heart of Melbourne, 607 Bourke Street is superbly located and equipped to offer tenants boutique, efficient, commercial spaces with excellent natural light given the building’s corner position. Individual tenancies are surrounded by varied retail, restaurants and cafes.

BSE’s Melbourne team partnered with Primewest Management to refurbish approximately 650 square meters of ground floor facilities, including lobby, amenities, external courtyard and changes to the café tenancy. Our team delivered design and documentation services as well as advice during construction, for electrical, mechanical, fire protection and hydraulic services.

BSEs team designed services for ongoing operational efficiency, as well as considering installation requirements with minimal disruption. Given the building requirements, our design was able to support the onsite team to ensure the space would maintain its operation during construction.

Working with the architectural design of the space, our team extensively surveyed the site to ensure that the services contained in a reduced ceiling space would offer the necessary air, light and ventilation outputs, fire safety considerations and hydraulic services for other floors without impacting the architects vision.  

Wonderful World Teachers Day

Today is World Teachers Day! Originally established to set benchmarks for the training, employment and development of teachers, the day has evolved into a celebration of the significant role teachers play in the lives of children and students, their families and communities.

With many Teachers in the TeamBSE extended family and our children learning from home for much of this year, as well as the classroom, today is an extra reason to honour the resilience and innovation shown by teachers! Celebrated around the World on 5 October and in Australia 30 October (when students and teachers are back from holidays), we are taking the opportunity today of looking back at some of our favourite education (primary, secondary and tertiary) projects, and more recent designs.

Chatswood Education Precinct (concept design)

St Mary Mackillop

Science Learning Centre, The Kings School

The Ponds School

Public primary and high school.

Young Campus, TAFE Riverina

Australian Christian College, Caboolture

Q Block, Queensland University

C4A Macquarie University

General Assembly, 1 Market Place

Osteo Lab, University of Victoria

Water Week with Wade

To celebrate, National Water Week (19-25 October), we took the opportunity of speaking to Wade Prendergast, Associate & Team Leader - Hydraulic and Fire Services in our Sydney office, about all things water!

Each year, Australian Water Association facilitates National Water Week to inspire and expand awareness on the value of water. Access to clean water is an important part of our daily lives one which we may take for granted. The capacity to protect our water environments and resources, and use water wisely is in all of us as individuals, communities and organisations.

Wade has been part of Team BSE since 2012 and helped shape and grow the hydraulic and fire services teams and delivery to clients in all our offices. He brings a huge range of project sector experience from small complex kitchens tucked into commercial office buildings, infrastructure design and change in new developments, upgrade and new schools, aged care, community and hospitality spaces across the country.

Wade at his desk in Sydney.

We recently sat down with Wade to ask him some Water Week and hydraulic design questions:

Q: How does hydraulic design/ engineering benefit communities and individuals?
A: That can be a complex question, in summary, a good hydraulic designer or engineer will provide a system, technical solutions or (if appropriate) an alternate solution to provide plumbing and drainage to the building or space. Depending on the specific requirements, the design should be water efficient, that is, minimise water and resource use, fixtures and equipment fit to purpose and considerate of [alternate] water systems such as rain water or grey water re-use to benefit the building and ongoing costs in homes, workplaces, community buildings, public spaces

Q: How did you get involved in hydraulic design?
A: I started out in the industry as a plumber (hydraulic contractor), in both commercial and residential developments. Thoroughly enjoyed it and investigated options to expand my knowledge and understanding of how systems work! I completed my plumbing trade and the Cert IV in Plumbing Services which lead to my first designer role. Following that experience, TAFE NSW offer a Diploma in Hydraulic Services Design, which I completed, and I highly recommend to everyone wanting to make the change between contractor to consultant. [Side note, this course is being offered again in 2020 at North Sydney TAFE, I would encourage any hopeful designers to give it a look!]

Q: How do you re-imagine Australia’s water future?
A: Two areas of change will safeguard water for use, I am speaking from a project and designer perspective: efficient use and sufficient supply. Being able to minimise water use in a design or development best and easiest when considered early in concept. Using the expertise of the team, having the discussion and intent to leverage rainwater, grey water and efficient fixtures. Solutions are viable in many situations, which reduce reliance on network supply. The supply network is the other aspect of Australia’s water future, to ensure regular, sufficient and safe supply is a complex task for network providers in any location. Water flow, pressure, capacity, information availability, leakage prevention, maintenance and upgrade are never ending tasks.

Q: One thing for architects/ developers to consider early on in project?
A: An intentional focus on services infrastructure. It’s not the fun part of a project, it is what makes construction quicker and cheaper and a building or space user friendly, with the capacity to provide efficient solutions while minimising maintenance and costs. Discuss design solutions early with consultants such as in-ground supply tanks, the physical space required for adequate systems required under BCA and Australian Standards for long-term efficiency. I would also strongly recommend testing water infrastructure capacity (pressure and flow) prior to commencing site construction to avoid re-design when results vary.

To finish off, a couple of fun questions:

Q: Favourite dance move?
A: Hahaha, I know what you want me to say to this. Favourite dance move? Definitely “the worm”. (Author note, reach out and ask Wade about this back story)

Q: What is your go-to joke?
A: Have to pull out a classic plumbers joke:
There are 2 reasons why you should never drink toilet water.
Number 1 and Number 2.

Radiant Radiology Renders

BSE recently shared a great snap of this project on our Instagram page (@bse_australia), and we had to follow up with more details.

This partnership with Healius Limited, Bokor Architects, Currie and Brown, and Formula Interiors provided Healthcare Imaging Services with increased capacity and services to their clients with facilities for MRI, CT Scans, X-Ray, Mammogram and Ultrasounds.

BSE’s engineers provided electrical, mechanical, hydraulic and fire protection services, with detailed documentation and services advice during construction phase. Balancing the consideration of base building design while meeting new and precise design requirements demonstrates the sector expertise our team have. The quench pipe design is necessary part of many medical suite facilities was used in this case to safely expel gas produced as part of the medical equipment functions.

BSE’s team provided considerable value to the project their excellent multi-disciplinary design and documentation of services and further coordination with other consultants engaged in design. The complexity of the project and working with a construct only contactor enabled our detailed designs to demonstrate their worth by minimise modifications during construction.

The design of the rooms included back lit ceiling panels to provide a calming view for patience in what can be a challenging environment.

Project Leader: Maggie Xia
Director: Stuart Johnson

Images: Concepts by Bokor Architects

ICT Expansion

We’re excited to share details of our expanded ICT offering to our clients and project partners with John Smithers joining Team BSE in Brisbane!

John brings over 20 years’ experience in the electrical and communications industry to BSE. As a Certified Vendor Designer in structured copper, fibre optic and MATV systems, John provides a new depth and speciality of designs for commercial, education, aged care and defence projects.

John’s extensive experience in ICT design and project management services, our capacity to provide innovative solutions, to meet project requirements continues to grow. Working within consideration of project scope, budgetary considerations and BSE’s team focus on delivery of scope which are user friendly and provide fit for purpose outcomes.   

Whether your next project needs some creative cabling solutions, increased communications infrastructure, increased mobility through wireless or integration of smart tech to your spaces, reach out to our team.

Dazzling at Data#3

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, which is certainly case for the new Data#3 office space in Brisbane. The refreshed 2,000m² Data#3 Brisbane office features state of the art I.T. equipment, including a 9.6m curved digital wall which will greet team members and visitors on arrival in the space.

Partnering with the visionary design by Harry Poulos Architects, and builder Pagewood, our Queensland project team, was pleased to leverage the existing relationship with Data#3 to deliver the design and documentation scope for electrical, mechanical, fire protection, hydraulic and audio visual. The new space provides Data#3 with a spectacular, unique and flexible working environment.

Photo credit: Scott Burrows

Welcome David Luck!

BSE is delighted to welcome David Luck to Team BSE!

David joins us in a National capacity as Associate and Team Leader – Acoustics. For more information about this new service offering, see our Acoustics services page> https://www.bse.com.au/acoustics

An industry leading professional, with over 20 years of Australian and International experience, David is a significant addition to Team BSE and our service offering to our project partners and clients.

David brings his extensive project design, review and implementation experience as well as contracting and construction management knowledge. For scopes from single room sound-assessments, full tenancy design to construction site and infrastructure

David specialises in sustainable building design, workplace acoustics, infrastructure, defence and environmental noise control.

Advance with Acoustics!

Looking to take your project to the next level and deliver real value to clients?

BSE is excited to share the news that our team of experienced and talented engineers and designers has expanded to include Acoustics as a service offering! 

Acoustic considerations are an important part of making buildings and spaces just work. Engaging with our clients and project partners to understand the scope of requirements for a project is essential. BSE’s new Acoustics team are committed to providing quality and innovative service and solutions that add real value to our projects. Partnering acoustics with BSE’s existing range of design solutions, delivers effective and efficient solutions.

Our acoustics team integrates perfectly with BSE’s Design Led approach, providing researched recommendations and solutions to enhance workability of the space while honouring the design intent provided by Architect or Client.

Using practical and evolved modelling technologies, our team considers the objectives to deliver outstanding scope outcomes. From clients and statutory requirements, implementation and ongoing operational budget requirements, these aspects are considered by our team to provide exceptional solutions across entire buildings. Attention of existing and future vibration conditions, internal architectural acoustics for privacy and noise isolation, environmental, ESD and Green Star acoustic obligations, construction noise and vibration advice, monitoring and planning.

David Luck is our Associate, National Team Leader – Acoustics and is eager to discuss how BSE can leverage acoustic design and approaches to value add to you project scope. Reach out on 02 9922 5200.

Made in Australia

For over 25 years, BSE has proudly remained 100% Australian owned and operated!

In the new COVID world with our ability to move globally being so restricted, BSE’s teams are able to offer a full range of engineering services locally, guided by a leadership team in Australia.

Our commitment to innovative and sustainable Australian design and engineering is demonstrated through our growth from Sydney in 1994 to our multi state presence in 2020, with a proven track record of success in all states and territories.

Because we’re obsessive about the quality of our work, we have always ensured it‘s done in Australia to Australian and ISO standards.

For more on our ways of working; true partnership, specialist meets generalist, bottom line sustainability and design-led engineering, check out the About us page.

PIF Chamption Profile - Godfrey Frederick

BSE's industry partner and charity of choice Property Industry Foundation has been kind enough to profile our National Strategic Partnerships Director Godfrey Frederick, as a PIF Champion recently.

Read the full profile and more about PIF’s great’ work here: https://www.pif.com.au/pif-champion-godfrey-frederick-of-building-services-engineers/

BSE’s National Strategic Partnerships Director, Godfrey Frederick

EOFY Reflection

What a time! Thousands, millions of words have already been written about this year, and there will continue to be many more . As engineering consultants, our role is to demonstrate our commitment to be your project partner during demanding times.

Taking time to reflect, our team, led by Andrew Fraser share their thoughts:

““Undeniably a challenging period. It is almost hard to look back past the previous several months to a pre-COVID world and remember what that ‘normal’ was. Despite this, it is reassuring to be able to remember what our teams have achieved since July 2019. Celebrating 25 Years, inspiring leadership retreat, amazing projects delivered, our expansion into Audio Visual service, extension of the ESD team and growth into South Australia all balanced with the strength and consistency of our successful East Coast teams.””

— Andrew Fraser, CEO

National Finance Manager, Nicki Fraser reflected on the period which provided both opportunities and challenges. During the first six months of the financial year, our leadership team identified that increasing our team member numbers across our offices, turnover and diversification of client base were essential to further growth and continued project delivery success. We kicked some great goals prior to the New Year, and while COVID-19 has thrown up complications BSE have not reduced hours worked or salaries and committed to ‘business as usual’ to provide our outstanding service to project partners in short, medium and long term. Balancing this responsibility while caring for the health and safety of our team members has been a priority for the management team. Andrew continues to hold weekly chats with all team members, and the positive and confident attitude our teams have shown a significant contribution to our resilience.

NSW Director, Stuart Johnson shares that our teams worked towards New Year with the usual surge, and commenced the New Year with exciting projects such as Chatswood Education Precinct and Gosford RSL for our Buildings team. While our Interiors team continued strong partnerships across iconic commercial towers, retail partnerships and with a range of inspiring design firms. While COVID-19 impacted large and small projects, we are now seeing a return in the interiors space and some of the larger projects coming off hold. Looking positively to the near future and building on our partnerships to exceed expectations and ensure successful delivery of a diverse range of projects.

Director, Cameron Webb, based in Queensland, has been thrilled that our teams were involved in the revolutionary Midtown Center project in Brisbane CBD, the first of it’s type in Australia, joining 2 existing commercial towers into a single building with generous floor sizes and exceptional amenities. The 20,000sqm fitout for Rio Tinto, delivered an integrated solution leveraging our team’s base building knowledge into the tenancy, allowing both our Buildings team and Interiors team to contribute exceptional project outcomes. Celebrating 7 years of BSE in Queensland, our teams welcomed project partners and clients for an evening occasion.

As our Victorian team also marked an anniversary, Victorian Regional Manager, Iynka Logan highlights that celebrating 5 years with clients and our growing team was a milestone. During this financial year, our team grew by 50% and moved into larger offices. Key projects were delivered with project partners JLL including 10,000sqm for Department of Premier and Cabinet, a new commercial build and integrated fitout completed for Target and residential and mixed use superlots at Martha Cove in construction.

ACT Regional Manager, Brendon Newham, considers this financial year a strong period in Canberra, continued growth of the team and large scale data center delivery are key highlights, plus a plethora of medium to large mixed use residential development and education refurbishments. As with the other offices, ensuring quality of design and maintaining scope delivery during COVID-19 was an adjustment, made with the support of the whole team.

Our newest office in South Australia kicked off operations during the second half of the financial year, led by SA Regional Manager, Tim Mudge. With team member numbers already growing and project delivery well underway at RAAF Edinburgh and SkyCity Casino, BSE are excited about the potential of this new market.

As Andrew and Cameron lead us into the new financial year, their key take-away for our teams and project partners is that as an industry, we still face challenging times with as much capacity as ever for success. Partnerships are vital as ever to maintain the strength and growth of the past decades. Projects continuing to progress in a COVID economy, pipeline investment and quality of design and build can and will drive innovation and recovery.

International Women in Engineering Day

This year we’re celebrating International Women in Engineering Day, by sharing insights and perspective from OUR Women in Engineering.

We asked our team members two simple questions, and collated responses for some great inspiration!

Our responses to Question 2 here.

Sound on.

#INWED20 #ShapeTheWorld