29 November 2010 – As 2010 draws to a close, Aurecon’s award wins continue to mount up. In multiple national awards recently announced, iconic projects delivered by Aurecon are being recognised for their excellence, innovation and professional project management outcomes.

Consult Australia Awards

At the 2010 Consult Australia Awards for Excellence, Aurecon received two gold and five silver awards as well as one certificate of recognition.

• Gold awards

• Building (Non-Residential) category – for the Adelaide Entertainment Centre Redevelopment. The judges commented, “This challenging project was tightly managed and overcame some major technical complexities while delivering a high value outcome.”
• Transport & Civil - for the Sydney Harbour Bridge infrastructure upgrade undertaken for the Roads & Traffic Authority NSW.  As an alliance participant and lead designer, we delivered $80+ million of strengthening and upgrades to the Sydney Harbour Bridge to significantly increase its lifespan.

The judges commented “This high profile works was impressively completed with much efficiency and client focus. Relationships across the whole project were very strong.”

• Silver awards 

• Education & Training silver award – for the  Horizon Power training programme. This project saw remote Aboriginal communities able to undertake a community-based programme which judges recognised for raising standards and resulting in the community having a better understanding of energy efficiency.
• Energy silver award – for the Queensland Alumina high voltage upgrade project at the Gladstone Alumina refinery. Aurecon provided broad engineering design for this 11kV upgrade which delivered improved safety of personnel, reliability of operations and added new life to an older plant.  The judges commented, “A close understanding of client needs led to a very positive technical and business outcome…”
• Robina to Varsity Lakes Rail Extension Project: Trackstar Alliance (Aurecon & AECOM). Judges were particularly impressed with the alliance delivery method which handled additions to the project scope in the form of extensive associated works not in the original scope.
• BMW Adelaide Redevelopment – Specialist Services category. Aurecon provided a suite of none specialist engineering services for the design of the BMW showroom. The judges recognised that Aurecon provided a combination of many specialist services, with analysis completed to a very high standard.
• Aurecon Hatch won for project management services on the Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal Seventh Stage expansion (DBCT 7X Project). As the consultant, we provided a diverse range of engineering services to deliver what the judges described as a “project of state and national significance”.
• Finally, a Certificate of Recognition went to Transport & Civil for the Techport Common User facility in Adelaide for McConnell Dowell Built Environs Joint Venture.

“The Consult Australia awards night was fantastic for Aurecon and the recognition shows the depth and breadth of our skills and the innovation we deliver as a team,” said Bill Glasgow – Region Leader Victoria who was at the event.

National Australian Engineering Excellence Awards

Having already won the Malcolm Kinnaird Engineering Excellence Award, Aurecon’s Techport project has now won the National Australian Engineering Excellence Award.

These awards celebrate outstanding engineering excellence and the Techport Australia Common User Facility project was recognised for the key role the project will play in building the new Air Warfare Destroyers for the Royal Australian Navy, as well as being ideally suited for the delivery of future significant naval projects.

The work was performed on land, over and under water, requiring extensive civil, electrical, hydraulic and marine engineering design and construction expertise. The award was accepted by Mr Trevor Lambert, New Business & Strategy Manger, Built Environs Pty Ltd.

"Aurecon was part of the winning team the complexity and unusual nature of this truly multi-discipline project required a diverse team, with an integrated and innovative approach to design,” said David Barnes.

New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards

The Stamford Residences project has taken the top award in the Building and Construction category of the New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards held in Wellington on 24 November.

Aurecon completed the structural, geotechnical and facade engineering and the surveying of the existing building.

An additional eleven storeys of luxury apartments were added over the existing 10 storey Stamford hotel building in the Auckland CBD. This innovative concept was initiated by our team and then presented to the client, in conjunction with the architect.

Neil Barr, General Manager – New Zealand, says “this is an excellent showcase of how an innovative solution from one of our teams can add so much value back to the client. The Judges have recognised this as being a huge step forward for the engineering industry. My congratulations go to our property team.”

Thoughtful design of the construction process and proficient project management minimised impacts during construction, so the hotel was only closed for a period of four months.

Strengthening works were minimised through an innovative combination of concrete reinforced columns, and strengthening of shear walls through either addition of confining steel plates or by coring holes and grouting reinforcing 14 metres into existing walls.

Three tuned mass dampers at the top of the building are used to reduce the wind acceleration experienced by building occupants to comfortable levels. These dampers are designed to shut down in a major seismic event.