DMA Engineers and VAE Group won the Best  HVAC Retroft or Upgrade Project Award at the 2019 AIRAH Awards in Sydney last night for the he Mater Private Hospital Air Handling Unit (AHU) replacement project.

The project entailed the successful replacement of 22 existing AHUs with 25 new AHUs. It was a complex project that required exceptional teamwork. Our award submission was based on the following key factors:

1. Prior to DMA Engineers and VAE becoming involved, the project had undergone three previous failed implementation attempts due to affordability, inadequate confidence in the delivery method and unacceptable risk.
2. Collaborative value management enabled the DMA/VAE team to remove scope and cost, and submit an acceptable tender price without losing sight of the overarching project objectives.
3. The solution has transformed an aged AHU plant installed in extremely congested plant rooms to an efficient design that is readily accessible for long-term maintenance. This outcome was thought impossible by previous consultants and contractors.
4. Mater frequently cited that the key to the project’s success was the exceptional collaboration amongst the project team.
5. The staging, planning and smart sequencing of system changeovers in a live hospital environment was noted as ‘impeccable’, allowing typical shut downs of no more than 2-3 hours.
6. Mater have indicated that they want to use this as the project delivery model for future projects: specifically, having the consultant and HVAC contractor working directly with Mater.

Congratulations to the other finalists, and all other finalists and winners of the 2019 awards. It’s a fantastic industry to be involved in, and it was inspiring to see so many innovative projects on show last night.

For more details about the project, click here or contact russell.lamb@dmaengineers.com.au

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