25 May 2018 - The 60^th Australian Good Design Awards attracted a record 536 entries of innovative designs. As sponsor of the new Engineering Design award category, Aurecon is proud to celebrate the finalists and winners for rising to the challenge of seeing through new eyes to shape a brighter future for humanity.

Overall there were 11 Good Design Awards in the Engineering Design category, with four that achieved special recognition.

The Good Design Award for Sustainability was awarded to Tesla for the Tesla Powerpack Neoen Hornsdale Wind Farm. In September 2016, a once in 50-year storm damaged critical infrastructure in South Australia, causing a state-wide blackout. In response, Tesla deployed the world’s largest lithium-ion battery, the 100 MW Hornsdale Power Reserve. This world-leading project was delivered in record time, providing grid stability and system security to all South Australians.

Best in Class Engineering Awards went to Humanihut and Thyssenkrupp Elevator AG:

• Humanihut’s Shelter System is a scalable, deployable, rigid field infrastructure system, eight times more logistically efficient than other temporary buildings and delivering measurable improvement over tents. Humanihuts are climate controlled, include services and internal furnishings, and are deployed with their own ablutions and utilities creating a temporary liveable community.
• The MULTI, designed by Thyssenkrupp Elevator, is the world’s first rope-free elevator that applies linear motor technology to move multiple cars in one shaft both vertically and horizontally. The model is set to revolutionize tall building design and generating significant excitement amongst industry.

A Gold Winner Award went to the Nepal Rebuild Project. The 2015 earthquakes in Nepal damaged 200 of the 350 schools supported by the Australian Himalayan Foundation (AHF). The design involved an innovative lightweight earthquake resistant classroom structure using a prefabricated kit of parts made of cold-formed steel, with construction of 20 classrooms now complete.

Dr Kourosh Kayvani, Managing Director – Design, Innovation & Eminence at Aurecon said “Engineering Design has always been at the core of creating a better world for humanity. However, much of our work as engineers remains invisible and hence undervalued. To shine the spotlight on excellence in engineering design and its impact not just in Australia but also globally, Aurecon worked with Good Design Australia to create a new design award category dedicated to excellence in Engineering Design.

“I was delighted to have the pleasure of presenting the inaugural Good Design awards in Engineering Design category in the presence of some 1 100 guests at Sydney Opera House!” Dr Kayvani said.

Judging the Engineering Design category this year were:

• Dr Kourosh Kayvani, Managing Director – Design, Innovation & Eminence at Aurecon
• Julian Briggs, Design Director – Water & Waste Water Treatment at Aurecon
• Professor Veena Sahajwalla, Director of Sustainable Materials Research & Technology from The University of NSW
• Craig Commerford, Managing Director, VSL Australia/NZ
• Anver Cassim, Senior Project Manager, Siemens

The winners of Australia’s peak design industry awards – the highest honour for design innovation – were announced on 17 May at the 60^th annual Good Design Awards Ceremony in Sydney. View complete list of the Good Design Australia 2018 Winners here.

25 to 27 May 2018 | Good Design Showcase, Overseas Passenger Terminal, Sydney

View designs at the Good Design Showcase Exhibition at Overseas Passenger Terminal, Circular Quay in Sydney. On 26 and 27 May the exhibition is open to the public from 4pm – 10pm. Entry is FREE.