May 2023

An impending lease expiry, predicted growth in headcount and a desire to improve the workplace experience of its staff led SEEK to look beyond its existing office space and set out on a path towards its own, custom-designed environment. Sean McGowan reports on that seven-year quest, which led to a high-performing, comfortable and naturally lit space.

Given a blank page, an engaged client, a set of unique site constraints and permission to invent new ways of bringing a building to operational life, Cundall’s building services and sustainability engineers have created an award-winning design for a net zero commercial tower in Hong Kong.

How to ensure that budding HVAC&R building services professionals get the support they need? AIRAH firmly believes mentorship is the way forward.

The A.G. Coombs Group has committed to achieving net zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 operational emissions by 2030. The building services specialist will work with its value chain, industry partners and customers to achieve net zero Scope 3 emissions by 2040.

According to the annual report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), climate change continued to advance at a tremendous and impactful clip in 2022. 

Alfa Laval has launched what it says is the first heat exchanger developed specifically for fuel cell systems – the AlfaNova GL50.

German ventilation, control and drive technology company Ziehl-Abegg has posted record sales and growth in employee numbers.

Building management solutions provider Automated Logic has acquired Logical Electrical Solutions and Logical Service Solutions (collectively “Logical Electrical and Service Solutions”), the independent Automated Logic controls contractor operating in the Australian Capital Territory. Automated Logic is a part of Carrier Global Corporation, a global provider of building and cold chain solutions.

Recognising performance that goes above and beyond doesn’t always have to be expensive, writes Dr Gayle Avery. But it does have to be executed properly and appropriately.

Reliable Controls has added its considerable support to the push for better indoor air quality (IAQ), in particular through monitoring. “Integrating IAQ sensing technology into your building allows you to collect building data that helps you optimise building performance and avoid system failures,” says the company.

Condair has appointed Virender Rana as its new managing director. Rana will succeed Ian Eitzen, Affil.AIRAH, who is taking on a new position in the company as senior technical adviser.

Students and academics from the University of Melbourne joined forces with industry consultants and local government representatives to explore achieving net zero carbon design for those most energy-intensive buildings: aquatic centres. The university’s Brendon McNiven, Dominik Holzer and Lu Aye, F.AIRAH, elaborate.

For Simon Witts, M.AIRAH, it’s the complex projects and designs that keep him going. We chat with the national division director, engineering for VA Sciences, based in Melbourne.

By the time you are reading this almost half of 2023 will have flashed by. It’s incredible how time speeds up as you get older. How is the year progressing for you?

The recent Clean Air Forum in Canberra brought together stakeholders across various disciplines to discuss the next steps to improving indoor air quality. AIRAH attended as a peak engineering body.