BE - Building Efficiency 2020-2021 by A.G. Coombs

2020-2021

Pandemic ready

CSL’s Southern Aurora

Sydney’s new arena

Maintaining an icon

Banking on data

The A.G. Coombs Group acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to elders past and present and emerging.

MANAGING DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

It has been an extraordinary period for the world and for the A.G. Coombs Group in our 75th Year. This edition of Building Efficiency highlights the scope of innovative building services solutions delivered in this extraordinarily challenging time.

The outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic saw the world thrown into disarray but during this period the A.G. Coombs Group companies have worked closely with our clients, service providers and suppliers seeing us continue to deliver our services safely and effectively. Our strong business infrastructure and resilient continuity plans ensuring that we operated effectively and reliably.

Our commitment to the health and well-being of our personnel led to the implementation of industry leading COVID-safe work plans supporting our deep-seated goal to be incident and injury free wherever we work.

This period has seen the completion of a range of outstanding projects with our valued partners. These include the fast-tracked St Vincent’s on the Park COVID-19 hospital in Melbourne, large commercial towers in the landmark Parramatta Square development, the extraordinary 6 Star Green Star rated Two Melbourne Quarter, the RAN School of Survivability & Ship Safety at HMAS Cerberus and key projects in data centres, transport infrastructure and higher education. These facilities feature the latest in building services technologies and will serve their owners, occupants and the community well into the future.

We have many projects of note underway, including major underground rail infrastructure, large data centres, healthcare projects in metropolitan and regional areas, defence facility upgrades, a world leading stadium development and large-scale pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities – together with many smaller but no less important specialist projects.

Data centre infrastructure operations, hospitals, the national broadcaster, banking facilities, major commercial building portfolios, iconic cultural institutions, multiple universities, retail shopping centre portfolios, and State and Local Government building portfolios have all operated

safely, efficiently and sustainably with our specialist building services maintenance and technical management.

A.G. Coombs continues to drive the digital transformation of building services design, and off-site modular manufacture, installation, and commissioning. Our leading contribution to the BIM MEPAUS initiative and innovative Virtual Buildings Information System® positions us at the forefront of the industry. Integrated digital asset management, analytics and optimised maintenance systems are delivering significant improvements in building system performance, increasing plant life cycles, and reducing operating costs and environmental impacts.

Our highly experienced Advisory teams have enhanced client project delivery, enabled improvements in facility asset performance, and provided leading building services advice during COVID-19.

Sustainable business operations and helping our clients reduce environmental impacts and improve the resilience of their businesses in a changing climate remains a strong focus.

A.G. Coombs commitment to Diversity and Inclusion as well as Reconciliation is fundamental; promoting awareness, understanding and change in our industry. Our active support of community and charitable causes and longstanding foundation charity partner Challenge is also ongoing.

Our strong values and culture have provided confidence and guidance during this challenging period. These have been the cornerstones of our success for 75 years together with our talented people – our greatest strength and the Group’s clear point of difference.

Looking to the future, the A.G. Coombs Group is well positioned with strong and resilient business infrastructure, a very solid pipeline of work and respected relationships to continue to deliver outcomes of the highest standard for our valued clients.

Russell Telford Managing Director A.G. Coombs Group

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

I am very pleased to commend this year’s edition of Building Efficiency to you. This 75th Year edition shares the remarkable work of our Group of Companies, and our teams in these exceptional times.

During this period A.G. Coombs has continued to lead the building services industry, embracing the challenges thrown up by COVID-19. Applying new methods and technologies; continuing to deliver exceptional service, quality, and outcomes that have driven our Group’s success over those 75 years.

Our contribution to the built environment is greater than the sum of its parts.

A.G. Coombs supports the spaces that provide value to our clients and have been essential to our communities – hospitals and health facilities, data centres and telecommunications together with commercial buildings, learning institutions, defence facilities, museums, and large-scale community and cultural facilities.

We are a value’s driven organisation, and this has been fundamental in our performance this year. Our commitment to the health and wellbeing of our people and to quality, efficiency and sustainability have seen the best brought out in our people, and our industry.

The A.G. Coombs Group Board fully supports this commitment to values with a clear strategic vision for the time ahead, and a firm focus on sound governance, prosperity and success over the long term.

We are proud of what we have achieved in the last 12 months and have strong plans for the future. Thank you for your support and engagement during this challenging and unprecedented period. We look forward to a positive future together.

Clive Weeks AO Chairman A.G. Coombs Group

Pandemic ready

As part of the Victorian Government’s $1.9 billion funding boost to increase the health system’s surge capacity and provide more hospital beds to help manage the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of facilities no longer used for healthcare were identified for recommissioning.

Among them was the former Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in East Melbourne.

The well-known building, which had remained dormant since “Peter Mac” relocated to the Parkville bio-medical precinct in 2016, was recommissioned and converted to accommodate 84 in patient (IPU) and high dependency beds to specifically treat patients infected with coronavirus.

The $30 million project was delivered under a super-fast-tracked program led by head contractor Kane Constructions.

A.G. Coombs was engaged to provide the mechanical and HVAC services works, and collaborated closely with project consultants AECOM to achieve a cost-effective and operationally effective design solution.

This solution required a 100% fresh air supply to the wards so as to achieve the negative pressure required for the specialist healthcare the facility would provide.

Drawing on its experience in the planning and management of complex projects, A.G. Coombs deployed expert resources from across

While Australians were called on to flatten the curve as the COVID-19 pandemic reached our shores, preparations were underway to boost Victoria’s healthcare system to deal with the looming health crisis.

the Group to deliver the project within the 12-week program while overcoming a number of technical challenges.

These included, not least, the dormant state of the facility and its services. Returning the hospital’s mechanical services and HVAC systems to operational standard required over three weeks of full-time service work. A.G. Coombs service technicians, who were familiar with the site from service and maintenance work conducted in the past, were brought in specifically to work on the old pneumatic control system.

Additionally, a wide range of equipment that had reached its end-oflife required replacement. This led to significant upgrade works on central plant systems including heating hot water, air handling and chiller plant. Valves, fan motors and pipework were replaced, while variable speed drives (VSDs) were added for efficiency.

To reduce lead times, site congestion and the amount of work conducted on site, A.G. Coombs drew on its prefabrication experience to have a number of system components, including fans and pump skids, built off site.

At the project’s peak, a team of over 50 A.G. Coombs staff worked on the project including service technicians, plumbers, engineers, draftspersons and commissioning specialists. A.G. Coombs Advisory was also engaged to integrate the building management and control system (BMCS).

Mid-program, as Australia saw the COVID-19 curve flatten, additional works were able to be included in the scope, such as a new reception area, ambulance bay and kitchen upgrades.

Work was also carried out to support safe access for patients, staff and visitors while ensuring the building was compliant with current safety standards.

The project was completed while the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital’s outpatient and day surgery campus – Eye and Ear on the Park – remained fully operational on the lower two levels of the building.

Despite the site challenges, and those presented by new work practices as a consequence of the pandemic, practical completion was reached on time.

In mid-July 2020 as the state faced a second wave of COVID-19 cases, the Victorian Government announced that the facility – now known as St Vincent’s Hospital on the Park – was ready to take COVID-19 patients if required.

“St Vincent’s Hospital on the Park is an important addition to Victoria’s healthcare infrastructure and we are proud to have delivered six months’ worth of work in a 7-week timeframe alongside our project partners,” said James Webster, Project Manager for Kane Constructions.

“A.G. Coombs responded to the challenge with a high level of technical ability and experience to help ensure that Victorians continue to receive the very best healthcare through the recommissioning of the hospital. Their pro-active approach shone through time and time again.””

- James Webster, Project Manager, Kane Constructions.

Delivering the modular solution

A pre-fabricated, modular mechanical services solution has contributed to the successful delivery of the second stage of the $3.2 billion Parramatta Square development.

Working under a Built Obayashi Joint Venture, A.G. Coombs has played a key role in the construction of the new $175 million 3 Parramatta Square building for developer, the Walker Group. This venture with BOJV has also successfully delivered the neighbouring commercial tower in the Parramatta Square precinct.

The 3 Parramatta Square mixed-use tower features the architectural design by Johnson Pilton Walker (JPW) over 43,000m² of A-Grade office space across 16 levels. Central within the building is an open atrium starting above the Ground floor and spanning the entire tower allowing natural light through a glass ceiling above to illuminate the interior. The building also features three Basement car parking levels below plus a Basement Mezzanine level with end-of-trip facilities. Multiple retail spaces are located along the Ground floor to face the greater promenade from Parramatta Station.

Following its engagement as a full design and construct mechanical services contractor in 2017, A.G. Coombs worked collaboratively with base building consulting engineers LCI for the base building design and Norman Disney & Young (NDY) on the integrated NAB fit-out. With the first 13 floors of the tower tenanted by NAB, A.G. Coombs worked with the fit-out architects Woods Bagot and project manager Savills to deliver an integrated fit-out concurrently with the base building.

A.G. Coombs led the development to adopt a hybrid system for the base building that features an efficient passive chilled beam arrangement serving the floorplate perimeter, and a lowtemperature variable air volume (VAV) system across the open office floors. A high-temperature chilled water system supplying the chilled beams is provided through secondary heat exchanger arrangement with the main chilled water plant.

Several adaptive prefabrication techniques were utilised by A.G. Coombs to expedite the services installation and minimise time on site. These included the offsite prefabrication of approximately

350 modular frames featuring chilled beams manufactured in Denmark. By prefabricating the frames offsite, each chilled beam could be pressure tested after assembly to identify potential defects in the factory prior to their installation across Levels 3 to 16.

Approximately 90+ meeting and comms rooms located across Levels 1 to 13 (tenanted by NAB) are served by separate packaged units fed by the tenancy condenser water loop. To simplify the manufacture and installation to a consistent quality, A.G. Coombs consolidated their design into three typical acoustically treated box modules. Prefabricated offsite, the acoustically treated packaged unit modules were able to be quickly mounted and connected to services in the ceiling above each meeting room saving significant site installation works.

In its lead services role A.G. Coombs also implemented the use of building information modelling (BIM) software on the project and were the lead modelling coordinators of the 3PS project. Furthermore, site utilisation of BIM models on handheld devices allowed visibility of installation during construction preventing many potential clashes through quick resolution.

Practical completion at 3 Parramatta Square was reached in April 2020. NAB’s lease commencement was scheduled for the beginning of July, however to manage workplace exposure to COVID-19, NAB occupation of the building has pushed back to August 2020.

Post completion, A.G. Coombs have been engaged to provide ongoing service and maintenance to both the 3 and 4 Parramatta Square buildings showcasing an A.G. Coombs Whole-of-Life delivery.

“Parramatta Square is a fantastic addition to the city of Parramatta” said Stephen Gillespie, Project Manager for Walker Corporation.

“A.G. Coombs has proven to be a valuable partner on 3 Parramatta Square. The team’s ability to coordinate services, and respond to a challenging construction program with innovative prefabricated solutions has contributed to an outstanding outcome.”

“A.G. Coombs has proven to be a valuable partner on 3 Parramatta Square. The team’s ability to coordinate services, and respond to a challenging construction program with innovative prefabricated solutions has contributed to an outstanding outcome.”

Stephen Gillespie, Project Manager for Walker Corporation.

CSL’s Southern Aurora

Two years after the completion of the AlbuRx project, A.G. Coombs has returned to CSL Behring’s Broadmeadows site to complete the mechanical services construction of a new base fractionation facility.

CSL Behring Australia is Australia’s national plasma fractionator, ensuring the reliable supply of high quality plasma products to Australia and Asia Pacific. CSL Behring Australia also provides contract manufacturing services for New Zealand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan..

The company’s Australian manufacturing facility in Broadmeadows, north of Melbourne, additionally produces commercial plasma products as part of CSL Behring’s global supply chain.

As well as meeting CSL Behring’s specifications and the compliance requirements of a biomedical facility of this type, A.G. Coombs is committed to delivering an exceptionally high quality installation.

CSL Behring is set to expand its base fractionation capacity and support an end-to-end manufacturing process through the construction of new facilities in the USA, Germany and at Broadmeadows.

Construction of the base fractionation facility at Broadmeadows is being managed by Icon Construction, the same group responsible for the delivery of the AlbuRx facility and other projects since 2018.

A.G. Coombs was awarded the tender as mechanical services specialist contractor on both the Broadmeadows base fractionation facility and associated warehouse facility.

A.G. Coombs is working to a sophisticated mechanical services design documented by consulting engineer, Irwinconsult. Since commencing on site in mid-2019, the team has grown to include 50 technical and management personnel at peak periods.

As well as meeting CSL Behring’s specifications and the compliance requirements of a biomedical facility of this type, A.G. Coombs is committed to delivering an exceptionally high quality installation.

The fitout has been completed as vertical modules. Dedicated air handling units (AHUs) serve the different process spaces within each module.

The steel floor construction on Level 4 created a number of logistical and coordination challenges for A.G. Coombs, such that Level 3 services were required to be installed ahead of the construction commencing above. Mechanical services components including ductwork and air handling units (AHUs) were all lifted from the level 3 slab through the level 4 steel into their respective final locations.

To safely construct the facility’s 22m-high services riser, A.G. Coombs prefabricated the unit offsite before having it transported to site and craned into position. Installed in just one day, it is the largest riser to have ever been prefabricated by the Group.

The large number and variety of trades – including specialty trades engaged by CSL Behring directly – has demanded close collaboration and coordination so as to cater for all technical and spatial requirements.

CSL Behring’s base fractionation facility will help meet the future global demand for plasma-derived therapies.

“The technically complex nature of CSL Behring’s Aurora facility has required a highly experienced and committed project team,” said Louise McKinnon, Project Manager for Icon Construction.

Sydney’s new arena

The redevelopment of the Sydney Football Stadium will ensure Sydney has a modern, world-class venue of international standard for many years to come.

Located next to the Sydney Cricket Ground at Moore Park, the former Allianz Stadium was Sydney’s premier rectangular field venue for rugby league, rugby union and football (soccer) for 30 years.

But its aging infrastructure and poor spectator amenity led the NSW Government to announce that the stadium would be demolished and rebuilt into a world-class venue in 2017. The construction of a new stadium would complete the transformation of the precinct into a premier sporting and entertainment destination.

In late 2019, the NSW Government awarded the contract to build the new stadium to John Holland with construction beginning in early 2020.

As the first contractor on the project during the Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) period, A.G. Coombs has been engaged to deliver all mechanical services for the stadium under a design and construct contract. It will also take the role of lead services and building information modelling (BIM) coordinator.

Much work has been completed during the project’s detailed design phase to refine the mechanical services systems and solutions, particularly in light of the project targeting a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification.

The mechanical services design will feature natural ventilation whenever possible. A combination of fan coil units (FCUs) and variable

air volume (VAV) terminal units will provide localised temperature control and zoning to the stadium’s corporate hospitality spaces.

The control strategy and arrangement of the chillers and central energy plant will reflect the variation in load placed on these systems as a consequence of the stadium’s event scheduling and non-peak days.

And to meet the challenges of the compressed construction program, A.G. Coombs has designed prefabrication into the mechanical services design response wherever possible. This will see all FCUs, VAV boxes, pre-assembled fan and pump modules and risers modules constructed offsite.

Additionally, much of the Level 5 main mechanical services plant –which has been reduced in size and noise output due to its publicly visible location – will also be preassembled offsite.

A.G. Coombs has also brought its experience from the recent construction of the Bankwest Stadium in Parramatta to ensure effective acoustic treatment of the stadium’s externally-located chillers.

It is anticipated that the new Sydney Football Stadium will reach practical completion in time to host the 2022 NRL Grand Final.

“John Holland is committed to creating a stadium that is worthy of Sydney’s status as a global city,” said Marek Sorm, Services Manager for John Holland.

“A.G. Coombs has responded to the project’s compressed construction program through the introduction of innovative solutions, and we look forward to working with all stakeholders to set a new standard for stadium construction.”

Maintaining an icon

Considered a luminary of Australian architecture, and the first to fully express the Bauhaus aesthetic locally, Seidler designed more than 180 buildings during his decorated career.

The MLC Centre at Martin Place, with its white moulded façade and octagonal floorplan, remains one of his most recognisable works.

Owned by Dexus, one of Australia’s leading property groups, and Dexus Wholesale Property Fund, the 67-level building offers high quality office space for high profile tenants, as well as retail and dining spaces at the podium level.

The site, bounded by Pitt, King and Castlereagh Streets, also features the Theatre Royal and the heritage-listed CTA Business Club building. The latter offers accommodation, meeting rooms and conference space for Commercial Travellers’ Association of New South Wales members.

In the time since being on site, the team has worked closely with Dexus to improve the energy efficiency of the building’s existing chilled water plants through fine tuning and improvements to chiller staging. This has contributed to the building maintaining its 4.5 star NABERS Energy rating.

Water consumption has also been reduced through the reconditioning and upgrade of the MLC Centre’s main building cooling tower plant.

Additionally, A.G. Coombs has completed a number of A-Grade office fitouts and continues to build rapport with building tenants.

“The MLC Centre is an icon of Sydney’s commercial office market,” said Gary Aberley, A.G. Coombs Contract Manager.

“Since its engagement, A.G. Coombs has quickly become familiar with the property’s unique mechanical services systems, and has confidently put in place a number of efficiency improvement programs to ensure the MLC Centre remains a landmark property for years to come.”

Dexus is currently undertaking a $180 million redevelopment of the MLC Centre, which will add 6,000m² of new and improved retail, dining and commercial space across a new four-level podium at the base of the office tower. The project also includes the refurbishment of the Theatre Royal, which has remained closed since 2016.

Offering a wealth of commercial building systems and integration knowledge, A.G. Coombs was engaged by Dexus to provide maintenance of the MLC Centre’s mechanical services and HVAC systems in April 2018.

Having mobilised quickly to ensure continuity of service, A.G. Coombs employs two full-time technicians and an apprentice on the site permanently. This team manages the day-to-day operation of the robust mechanical services plant, and maintains conditions across the office and retail tenancies.

The input of the broader A.G. Coombs team – many of whom have a detailed knowledge of the MLC Centre site, having worked on it over the years – has also been invaluable in maintaining the building’s unique controls systems that combine new electronic controls with the original pneumatic system from the 1970s.

The MLC Centre, with its white moulded façade and octagonal floorplan, remains one of Harry Seidler’s most recognisable works.

“Since its engagement, A.G. Coombs has quickly become familiar with the property’s unique mechanical services systems and has confidently put in place a number of efficiency improvement programs to ensure the MLC Centre remains a landmark property for years to come.”

– Gary Aberley, A.G. Coombs Contract Manager.

When completed in 1977, the iconic Harry Seidler-designed MLC Centre held the title of being the world’s tallest reinforced concrete office building. Forty years on, it remains a prominent fixture of Sydney’s evolving skyline.

The COVID-19 journey

Few events throughout A.G. Coombs’ 75-year history have challenged the status quo like the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the challenges experienced by staff personally, and the Group as a whole, A.G. Coombs has led from the front as the building services industry navigates a new kind of normal.

Amidst the news reports of Australia’s devastating bushfire season in the summer of 2019/20, news of a different threat was emerging from further afield with the first signs of the COVID-19 pandemic.

By February 2020, this potential threat was receiving critical analysis by A.G. Coombs management as it traded knowledge and gained an international perspective from colleagues within its Global Peer Group.

Planning immediately commenced on the company’s OH&S response, with existing systems enhanced to manage the health risks while maintaining essential services. Meanwhile, A.G. Coombs Projects discovered the depth of government preparations when it was briefed on the refurbishment of the former Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre into a COVID-19-specific healthcare facility.

The COVID-19 pandemic had officially arrived in Australia.

In the weeks and months that followed, Australians would be challenged like never before as state and federal governments placed a variety of restrictions on business activity, social interaction and movement.

At the forefront of the A.G. Coombs response to COVID-19 has been the health, safety and job security of its people, and maintaining the essential services critical to the ongoing operation of its clients’ properties and facilities.

Vital to this was the work conducted by the A.G. Coombs Workplace Health and Safety team. Utilising new and existing technology, a daily COVID-19 questionnaire was implemented and became mandatory for all staff – whether located on site, in the office or working from home.

“Understanding our people’s health in real-time has been critical to the management of our response, and maintaining our safe presence at client sites around Australia,” says Luke Snell, A.G. Coombs Workplace Health and Safety Manager.

COVID-safe plans were progressively implemented in compliance with both government and client requirements, while technology provided full visibility of the movement patterns of staff working on sites around the country.

Out in the field, A.G. Coombs technicians navigated the complexity of restricted site access and maintained building services operations and services by working collaboratively with clients. Site-based check-in systems and adherence to COVID-safe plans quickly became business-as-usual.

“Ours is an industry already familiar with the management of health and safety on site,” says Gareth Whitfield, A.G. Coombs Servicing

General Manager. “COVID-19 added an unprecedented level of complexity and volume to this management, but we have been equal to the task.”

“The company’s response, from our technicians in the field through to the industry leadership reflected in our COVID-19 Advisory Notes, has given clients the confidence to support us in continuing our vital work.”

Often working in isolation in near-empty buildings and across what have, at times, been deserted cities has presented both challenges and opportunities for A.G. Coombs’ Service and Projects teams. While some works were interrupted, others were brought forward to take advantage of the low occupancy levels of commercial office buildings.

At the forefront of the A.G. Coombs response to COVID-19 has been the health, safety and job security of our people.

“Maintaining client relationships during this time has been important, and in many cases we have become the eyes and ears for our clients on site,” says Travis Gunn, A.G. Coombs Service Technician.

Scalable labour strategies also allowed A.G. Coombs to shift some of its workforce from construction sites to offsite prefabrication in controlled, COVID-safe environments.

Relocated to a secure facility in Port Melbourne, the National Customer Service Centre (NCSC) has fulfilled its important customerfocused function unabated.

Split into two isolated teams, the NCSC has maintained the important interface between property and facility management clients and A.G. Coombs technicians, and our trusted service providers Australia-wide.

“Adaptation and agility is part of our DNA at A.G. Coombs,” says Jodi Whelan, National Customer Service Centre Manager.

“Early mobilisation in response to COVID-19 ensured that we have kept our people safe and allowed us to adapt our service delivery

model to maintain the high level of client service the company is known for.”

While the affects of the pandemic may be significant for many businesses, A.G. Coombs has recognised that some impacts will result in positive, permanent changes that will be of long-lasting benefit to the business and its people.

“A.G. Coombs is a strong, well-managed business with an ingrained change-management philosophy,” says A.G. Coombs (Projects) General Manager, Mark Mitchell.

“Throughout 2020, our people have demonstrated their capability to be agile and adapt to the circumstances that have presented themselves. This ability to handle the pace of change in the coming months and years will ensure A.G. Coombs continues to lead the building services industry from the front.”

“Ours is an industry already familiar with the management of health and safety on site.”

- Gareth Whitfield, A.G. Coombs Servicing General Manager.

Building business intelligence

A.G. Coombs Advisory taps into over 70 years of experience in designing, delivering, operating and maintaining the technical systems of many of Australia’s leading and iconic buildings.

To leverage the breadth of the Group’s engineering expertise, it has developed a number of software solutions. Most recently, digital twins have been created for clients in sectors from higher education to commercial property.

While digital twins are often described as the next big thing in construction automation, their true value lies in their ability to enhance the level of interaction between the building owner/operator and building data.

Effectively a digital replica of a physical asset or collection of assets overlaid with real-time data and communication, the digital twin provides the user with information on asset performance as well as the ability to digitally control the physical asset.

“The real value of a digital twin lies in the ability to manipulate data, build scenarios, try out the ‘what ifs’ and use it as a virtual sandpit to explore operational cause and effect,” said David Oakeshott for A.G. Coombs Advisory.

For large mechanical services systems serving multiple university campus buildings, A.G. Coombs Advisory’s development of its Building Business Intelligence digital twin has proven invaluable in planning changes to spaces – for instance from a teaching space to a laboratory.

Here, the solution allowed the building owner/operator to verify whether the existing chilled water system had the capacity to accommodate such a radical change. The digital twin can be used for any network analysis; water, air and electrical systems.

Additionally, it allowed for multiple scenarios to be explored quickly and easily to determine the best outcome.

A.G. Coombs Advisory has deployed a similar software model to enhance the asset audit on a large, commercial property portfolio.

This interactive model was designed to consider energy and population density against the asset lifecycle information. It allowed the property owner/manager to virtually alter the population density

within a building to determine the impact changes to leasing arrangements would have on building services such as lifts, fire stairs, sanitary facilities, mechanical services or electrical distribution.

In this way, the property owner was able to identify the building services that would come under most strain from a change to the number of people in the building.

The digital twin model developed by A.G. Coombs Advisory uses well known and established dashboards, software and protocols for ease of use. Knowledge of spreadsheets is sufficient to both input and extract useful data and importantly, keep data up-to-date.

“It’s important that you don’t need to be a software developer to use it,” said Oakeshott. “The intention is that our model is intuitive enough so that facility managers and leasing teams can use it independently.”

And unlike those digital twins that are built concurrently as part of new construction projects, this model is designed to capture the important data within existing buildings where the potential to extend the life of building assets and equipment is much sought after. This can include asset management data and information from the Building Management and Control System or Operational Analytics data feeds.

“There’s a lot of power in combining multiple data sets. If you have data indicating the remaining life left in equipment, and you combine this with lease expiry dates or other data such as frequency of breakdowns, you can use this information to establish priorities with a greater level of certainty.”

And from an energy rating perspective, the model provides an ability to explore multiple scenarios to find improvements in energy efficiency and improve energy star ratings.

As well as educational settings and commercial property, A.G. Coombs Advisory has deployed its solution across a diverse range of building infrastructure including museums and art galleries, hospitals, data centres, government infrastructure and warehousing.

The modular nature of the Building Business Intelligence solution also offers the potential to support and improve maintenance regimes within healthcare settings, particularly as they emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The demand for reliable and useful data is growing. And as building owners, operators and users interact on a more frequent basis with their facilities, they are coming to expect more of the building systems that were once back-of-house.

Campus comfort

Swinburne University has undertaken a $19 million upgrade of its mechanical services to improve comfort conditions in campus facilities.

For more than 110 years, Swinburne has fostered close connections with industry with the aim of shaping the future through education.

Its three campuses in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne – Hawthorn, Croydon and Wantirna – offer tertiary and higher education courses, as well as Pathways and Vocational Education (PAVE), for both domestic and international students.

To provide a world-class learning environment, Swinburne recognised the need to improve the thermal comfort conditions of its learning spaces across all three campuses.

Engaged directly by Swinburne University as head contractor, A.G. Coombs completed the fully documented project amidst a live teaching and learning environment, and within a compressed timeline further complicated by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Working closely with Swinburne, project manager FG Advisory and consulting engineer Jacobs, A.G. Coombs developed a construction program that sought to limit disruptions to staff and students.

A.G. Coombs mobilised separate project teams across the three campuses with construction works commencing in September 2019.

The Hawthorn campus project involved the upgrade of mechanical services systems within multi-storey buildings TA and TB, which are connected via an enclosed walkway.

The project saw existing heating plant in each building replaced with new, energy efficient condensing boilers, and a new air-cooled chiller plant installed on the rooftop to serve both buildings. Pipe risers were installed to all levels of both buildings to provide air conditioning throughout.

To minimise disruption to staff and students, A.G. Coombs worked floor-by-floor to a pre-agreed schedule, removing the ceiling within classroom spaces and installing ductwork and new fan coil units (FCUs) incorporating heating and cooling.

To assist in meeting the compressed project timeline and reduce the amount of work in classroom spaces, FCUs were supplied fully assembled with unit, return air plenum, filter, pipe, insulation and valves/fittings.

A live change-over of systems was conducted to further minimise disruptions while maintaining space conditions.

Further afield at Croydon and Wantirna, both campuses share similar layouts and building typologies.

Space heating had been provided at each campus via three existing heating plants that had all reached the end of their service life, while ceiling fans and a small number of split systems were used for space cooling.

To improve the thermal comfort conditions within student learning spaces, practical workshops and administration areas, A.G. Coombs completed an upgrade of the boiler plant with the installation of new condensing boilers. Additionally, a chiller plant enclosure consisting of two new energy efficient air-cooled chillers was constructed at each campus to provide air conditioning campus-wide.

These systems serve new FCUs installed in the majority of classrooms within campus buildings. The units are connected to a rooftop pipework loop consisting of approximately 400 meters of pipe per campus.

Like at Hawthorn, all construction works were carried out while each campus remained open to staff and students. To minimise work and associated risks on site, well-established prefabrication techniques were utilised including the off site construction of chiller enclosure pump skids and rooftop pipe modules. All FCUs were also supplied fully assembled.

On those buildings where the pipework loop could not be installed, or where the building function suited an alternative form of cooling, split systems and evaporative coolers have been installed.

By the time practical completion is reached at the Croydon and Wantirna campuses in the last quarter of 2020, approximately 50,000 construction hours will have been invested on the project. Some 3,000plus hours will have also been dedicated to system commissioning.

“A.G. Coombs has proven its technical capability and delivered a highquality outcome for Swinburne while remaining committed to a challenging project program.”

- Peter Arandt, Project Manager – Major Projects, Enterprise Project Management Office, Swinburne University.

Tournament ready

Playing host to hundreds of events that attract more than 2.5 million spectators and visitors annually, the Melbourne & Olympic Parks (M&OP) precinct includes major venues such as Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Arena and Margaret Court Arena as well as the 30,050-seat AAMI Park stadium.

Home of the Australian Open grand slam tennis tournament since 1988, the 40-hectare site also hosts rugby, football, netball, basketball, cycling and gymnastics events, as well as music concerts and performances throughout the year.

The Melbourne & Olympic Parks Trust engaged Walker Fire Protection in August 2019 to provide preventative, corrective and reactive maintenance across services including fire management, fire detection and fire sprinkler and gas suppression systems, as well as fire and smoke doors and emergency warning systems.

With preparations for the 2020 Australian Open looming, rapid mobilisation was critical in ensuring Walker Fire Protection personnel could familiarise themselves with the site and systems.

Once on site, the team set out on an asset capture and validation exercise, with repairs and asset protection prioritised ahead of the precinct being handed over to Tennis Australia – event manager of the Australian Open in January.

The implementation of a thorough inspection and testing regime resulted in Walker Fire Protection successfully reducing the frequency of faults and alarms. Improvements were also made to fire detection systems within the main venues.

Through a collaborative precinct management approach, Walker Fire Protection’s lifecycle management and analysis will assist the Trust in capital expenditure planning and management of the fire systems.

Despite not being required to maintain an onsite presence during the Australian Open event, Walker Fire Protection remained responsive to callouts during that time and attended to urgent system repairs as required.

Within weeks of the event concluding, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in Melbourne & Olympic Park’s major venues being

With preparations for the 2020 Australian Open looming, rapid mobilisation was critical in ensuring Walker Fire Protection personnel could familiarise themselves with the site and systems.

Rapid mobilisation along with the capture and validation of assets by Walker Fire Protection ensured the Melbourne & Olympic Parks precinct was ready to welcome a record number of fans to the 2020 Australian Open.

closed to events and spectators. Other facilities and spaces such as the Holden Centre and Eastern Plaza car park remained operational. The Trust took this opportunity to complete a number of capital works projects, while Walker Fire Protection brought forward annual system inspection and testing.

“As Australia’s premier sports and entertainment precinct, safety and security are of the utmost importance,” said Scott Conza, Building Services Manager for the Melbourne & Olympic Parks Trust.

“Through the technical expertise and efforts of the Walker Fire Protection team, we are confident that significant progress has been made in the stability and robustness of the fire safety systems serving the venues and facilities,” said Mark Dunshore, General Manager for Walker Fire Protection”

“As Australia’s premier sports and entertainment precinct, safety and security are of the utmost importance.”

- Scott Conza, Building Services Manager, Melbourne & OIympic Parks Trust

Keeping the Kangaroo flying

Through significant upgrades to the fire detection & warning systems of its aircraft maintenance hangers at Melbourne Airport, Qantas has enhanced its protection of its most valuable assets, its people and the aircraft they maintain.

Reaching practical completion in June 2020, Hangers 101 and 141 have had new multi-spectrum flame detectors, fire indicator panels and occupant warning speakers installed and commissioned as part of the refurbishment works.

The larger of the two hangars, Hangar 101, is operated by Qantas Maintenance while Hangar 141 has been used by Jetstar since 2013.

Up to six narrow body aircraft can be parked for maintenance within Hangar 101 at any one time, while Hangar 141 accommodates a single, wide body aircraft such as Jetstar’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Located side-by-side at the southern end of Melbourne Airport’s north-south runway, the hangars play an important role in accommodating maintenance services for both airline fleets.

Both hangars are used around-the-clock where general servicing, system testing, repairs and component replacement is conducted.

Building on its extensive experience in the aviation sector, Walker Fire Protection was awarded the tender contract in late 2019 prior to work commencing on site in January 2020.

Working to the consulting engineers’ design, existing flame detectors were decommissioned and removed by Walker Fire Protection. Existing point-type smoke detectors and heat detectors were retained, which were subsequently incorporated into the new fire detection and occupant warning systems.

To improve the flame detection within both hangars, new triple spectrum infra-red (IR3) flame detectors were mounted to the underside of Hangar 101’s mezzanine floor beam. These have been carefully positioned and calibrated to provide overlapping coverage across each of the six aircraft maintenance bays.

IR3 flame detectors were also installed within Hangar 141 and positioned to provide overlapping coverage of the widebody maintenance bay.

New emergency warning speakers were installed throughout both hangars as part of a new Building Occupant Warning System. Additionally, the existing foam suppression systems were interfaced to the new fire detection system for automatic initiation.

As well as meeting the technical challenges of the project, safe work practices were applied while both hangars remained fully operational.

Among these operational requirements was that the Walker Fire Protection project team maintain a 15m clearance from aircraft at all times. A dedicated fire watch was also assigned while fire systems were isolated when undertaking the onsite works.

With aircraft regularly moving in and out of the hangars– including for unscheduled maintenance – close collaboration between Walker Fire Protection and Qantas, as well as multiple stakeholders, was critical. The Walker Fire Protection project team maintained flexibility in its installation program to cater for interruptions and avoid disruptions to airline operations.

Midway through the project program, the COVID-19 pandemic – and its impact on the aviation industry – resulted in a large number of aircraft being grounded. Both Qantas and Jetstar took this opportunity to conduct aircraft maintenance, with the hangars often fully occupied while the installation and commissioning of systems was completed.

Despite these challenges, Walker Fire Protection completed the project to schedule.

“Qantas is committed to a healthy, safe and secure environment for our people and customers, and the group continues to invest in our capability to deliver safe and efficient aircraft operations,” said Nicholas Lawler, Manager Property Development for Qantas Airways.

“Whilst this was a complex and at times difficult project, Walker Fire Protection performed exceptionally well and delivered a successful outcome that will benefit aircraft maintenance operations for years to come.”

Building resilience

The second of three commercial towers to be completed within the $2.9 billion Melbourne Quarter mixed-use precinct, Two Melbourne Quarter has been designed and built to be resilient to climate change.

The 29-level A-Grade commercial office building showcases a dynamic, resilient design by architect Woods Bagot that combines cutting-edge technology with a strong sustainability focus.

A high-performing glazed façade achieves low ingress leakage rates, while agile, collaborative workplaces are accommodated to support creativity and flexibility in how occupants work and interact with each other.

Engaged by Lendlease, A.G. Coombs delivered on a mechanical services design by consulting engineer Stantec (formerly Wood & Grieve Engineers).

The fitouts of both the EnergyAustralia anchor tenancy, and that of International Workplace Group’s (IWG) co-working brand Spaces, were also integrated into the fast-tracked base building works program.

While the original mechanical services design targeted 6 star Green Star and 5 star NABERS ratings, A.G. Coombs played an important role in the design finalisation phase so as to meet the client’s aspirations of an improved 5.5 star NABERS Energy rating.

This was largely achieved through the addition of four 15,000l/s pretreatment heat recovery air handling units (AHUs), each featuring a 4.5m diameter sensible heat recovery wheel. Instead of spill air being ejected from the building, it is ducted back to the heat recovery units with the reclaimed heat used to pre-condition the outside air to the AHUs.

A heat recovery AHU with plate air-to-air heat exchanger also serves the building’s world-class end-of-trip facilities.

To deliver additional energy savings, efficient electronically commutated (EC) plug fans are used on all AHUs. Energy valves installed on the AHU chilled and heating water coils provide accurate flow control at all load conditions. Secondary pumps have been arranged in a duty/duty/standby configuration to optimise pumping efficiency at part load. High efficiency heating hot water condensing boilers are installed.

The mechanical services design also features centrifugal magnetic bearing high load chillers arranged in a series counterflow arrangement to optimise chiller efficiency. The heating hot water plant features high efficiency condensing hot water generators.

As lead services coordinator, A.G. Coombs led the project’s building information modelling (BIM) design and coordination process.

Two Melbourne Quarter also represents A.G. Coombs’ biggest venture yet in the prefabrication and preassembly of plantroom pipework, main duct assemblies, pipe riser and AHU/VAV valve assemblies.

Over $1 million was invested across 74 separate prefabricated duct and pipework modules, contributing to the pandemic-impacted construction program being met.

“The completion of the second commercial tower is a significant milestone for the Melbourne Quarter precinct and delivers on our claim be Australia’s leading specialist provider of building services.” said Kevin Wilson, Project Manager for A.G. Coombs.

“A.G. Coombs has made a significant and valuable contribution to this project, particularly in realising the ambitions to achieve a market leading 6 star Green Star and 5.5 star NABERS Energy rating.”

“A.G. Coombs has made a significant and valuable contribution to the project, particularly in realising the ambitions to achieve a market leading 6 star Green Star and 5.5 star NABERS Energy rating.”

– Kevin Wilson, Project Manager, A.G. Coombs.

Banking on data

For many years, the A.G. Coombs Group of companies has worked closely with the ANZ across a number of its properties, including the bank’s headquarters in Melbourne’s Docklands precinct.

But it was the Group’s extensive experience in data centre management that led to the A.G. Coombs Integrated Technical Management (ITM) business being awarded the facility management contract for the ANZ’s two data centres in 2018.

Located in suburban Melbourne, these data centres underpin the bank’s operations, processes and transactions.

Charged with the task of maintaining the absolute reliability, capacity and efficiency of this important infrastructure, ITM conducted a

three-month mobilisation and familiarisation program preceding official commencement of the contract in October 2018.

This included communication with the incumbent management team, mock drills, training and the completion of a detailed mobilisation checklist and tracker. Weekly meetings were also held with the client to demonstrate progress.

Under its contract, ITM have stewardship over most aspects of the facilities’ management.

All specialist mechanical and fire services are provided through ITM by A.G. Coombs Servicing and Walker Fire Protection respectively, while ITM is responsible for all other external maintenance providers except security and cleaning services.

From personal banking to sharemarket trading and foreign exchange, the ANZ relies on the integrity of its data centres to process millions of transactions daily.

ITM have deployed a dedicated team of six personnel on each site, made up of a site manager, lead operator and a crew of technicians who work to carefully managed shifts around-the-clock, seven days a week. Together, these teams ensure continuity at each site to better manage scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, maintaining the online status of the data halls and limiting the impact of disruptions in the unlikely event of uncontrolled outages.

Bringing a fresh perspective and approach to the operation of the data centres, A.G. Coombs has worked to maintain the condition rating of existing systems and provide added value to the ANZ.

This has included the management and maintenance of backup generators and uninterruptable power supplies (UPS) to ensure continuity in the power supply, as well as identifying and understanding system operations to maintain the required levels of redundancy in the facility.

Additionally, A.G. Coombs applies analysis and reporting to improved thermal load management, and applied data analytics to manage electrical load and the power usage effectiveness (PUE) of each site –a metric used to determine the energy efficiency of data centres.

“ANZ is a global business, and our data centres are critical to supporting our operations both here in Australia and around the world,” said Daryl O’Rourke, Technology Area Lead – Data Centre Management Services for ANZ.

“ANZ is a global business, and our data centres are critical to supporting our operations both here in Australia and around the world.”

– Daryl O’Rourke, Technology Area Lead, Data Centre Management Services for ANZ

A.G. Coombs: Celebrates 75 Years, 1945—2020

For 75 years, A.G. Coombs has been Bringing Buildings to Life, providing specialist building services to Australia’s buildings.

Headquartered in Melbourne, A.G. Coombs was established by Allan George Coombs in August 1945. The first big break came with the installation of plumbing at the 1956 Olympic Village followed in the sixties with the air conditioning and mechanical services at the then new

Royal Children’s Hospital complex in Melbourne – at the time Australia’s largest mechanical services contract.

Allan Coombs played leading role in the establishment of industry standards and trade-based training for the industry, and the founding of the Air Conditioning and Mechanical Contractors Association.

With its reputation for technical excellence, A.G. Coombs has gone on to design, install, maintain and operate

First Stadium in the world to Achieve LEED V4 Gold Certification

building services in prominent facilities throughout Australia.

Today A.G. Coombs is playing a leading role in industry development; prominent in the digitisation of the design, delivery and maintenance of buildings, the shift to modular off site construction and in asset management and use of analytics in the operation of facilities – lifting productivity, improving health and safety and reducing environmental impacts.

Designed and built by a consortium led by Lendlease, the new 30,000-seat sports stadium forms a key part of the transformation and revitalisation of Parramatta in western Sydney.

A.G. Coombs is pleased to have played a key role in the construction of the $360 million facility. Working closely with Lendlease and consultants Aurecon, A.G. Coombs’ early engagement as design and construct mechanical services contractor afforded the project team the opportunity to influence building and systems design contributing to the sustainable outcome.

LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is an internationally recognised green building certification system operated by the US Green Building Council.

COVID-19 Resources – Supporting Critical Construction and Facility Operations

To provide useful and credible building services information to building owners and managers, A.G. Coombs technical experts prepared an extensive series of COVID-19 related Advisory Notes and other guidance material. The Advisory Notes were developed to address the most common issues being faced by our customers and included:

+ HVAC and COVID-19

+ Building Services Operation & Maintenance in COVID-19

+ Returning to Operation from COVID-19

+ Cooling Tower Operation & COVID-19

+ NABERS & COVID-19

+ Humidity Control – Using HVAC to Help Reduce Infection Spread

+ Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation for HVAC Applications

+ Modifying HVAC Systems to Reduce SARS-CoV-2 Transmission

+ Post COVID-19 Occupant Access and Building Security

The guidance material is available at www.agcoombs.com.au

A.G. Coombs

Continued Support for KGI REAL Healthy Program

A long-time supporter of KGI (Korin Gamadji Institute) and Official Facilities Maintenance Partner of Richmond Football Club, A.G. Coombs is providing support for the KGI ‘REAL Healthy’ program.

REAL Healthy provides participants with a 12-week health and wellbeing program including access to Aligned Leisure managed health and recreation facilities.

With support from the Federal Government, REAL Healthy is open to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples between the ages of 13 and 25.

During the program, participants take part in games, learn about the KGI’s values, Confidence and Resilience, Health and Wellbeing and other programs and opportunities with the KGI.

A.G. Coombs is a presenting partner for one of the four KGI REAL Programs; a four-day leadership program for students.

$28 Million Grant to Transform the Design and Production of Buildings in Australia

Monash University, Lendlease, The University of Melbourne, Donovan Group, BlueScope, Sumitomo Forestry and CSR, along with A.G. Coombs Group and 23 other partners, have been successful in a bid for $28 million to fund an initiative to revolutionise the building industry.

The research initiative, named the Building 4.0 Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), has been awarded funding through the Federal Government CRC Program.

The Building 4.0 CRC research initiative is focused on use of digital solutions, new products and processes aiming to transform Australia’s building industry to a techenabled, collaborative future where the customer is at the centre of each building experience and buildings are not only better, but created faster, cheaper and safer.

A.G. Coombs Group

The A.G. Coombs Group is a privately owned Australian group of companies that provides an integrated range of technical services for all systems in buildings, from design through to installation, commissioning, maintenance and ongoing operation and management. Operating for 75 years, A.G. Coombs has a national capability with major operations on Australia’s eastern seaboard.

Melbourne 03 9248 2700 | Sydney 02 8020 6000 | Canberra 02 6217 5600 Brisbane 07 3648 0500 | agcoombs.com.au

A.G. Coombs Projects

A.G. Coombs Projects leverage a National Centre of Excellence approach, where teamwork and project management skills set the company apart. This approach also provides high end engineering, project management and site personnel to deliver successful projects throughout Australia.

03 9248 2700 | agcoombs.com.au/projects/

A.G. Coombs Service

A.G. Coombs Service is a specialist provider of air conditioning, mechanical services, building controls and bundled services maintenance. Delivering 24/7 building support, the company is a preferred supplier to the Facilities Management Industry and provides professionally managed, highly qualified technical staff to achieve improved reliability, lower costs and regulatory compliance in commercial, retail and industrial buildings.

03 9676 4600 | agcoombs.com.au/service/

A.G. Coombs Advisory

A.G. Coombs Advisory provides quality advice and consulting services across numerous disciplines including mechanical, electrical, hydraulics and fire protection services and building technologies.

A.G. Coombs Advisory is Australia’s leading provider of Green Star Independent Commissioning Agent (ICA) services for projects requiring Green Star ‘As Built’ Certification.

03 9248 2700 | agcoombs.com.au/advisory/

Walker Fire Protection

Walker Fire Protection provides a range of fire protection and detection services, from high end project engineering advice and consultancy through to concept and detailed design, installation of all types of fire detection and suppression systems, and ongoing inspection, testing, maintenance and regulatory compliance support.

03 9279 7100 | agcoombs.com.au/walkerfire/

Integrated Technical Management

Integrated Technical Management is a high quality provider of Technical Facilities Management specialising in technically complex and critical facilities such as data and internet centres, major commercial complexes and sophisticated industrial plants.

03 9248 2700 | agcoombs.com.au/itm/

A.G. Coombs Group

Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra.

Head Office:

26 Cochranes Road (PO Box 1136)

Moorabbin, VIC 3189

General Enquiry: 03 9248 2700

www.agcoombs.com.au