Rob Lord

ESD and mechanical services design for this new laboratory building. In 2002, it was selected to represent the USA at the Green Building Challenge, Oslo, as one the 5 greenest buildings in the USA. It featured radiant cooling, chilled beams, desiccant drying, displacement cooling, and Task Air.

ESD and mechanical services design for the redeveloped Interpretative Centre.

This development incorporates industrial labs and offices, presenting a challenge to incorporate ESD principles. Daylight and thermal modelling, together with heat exchanges for outside air load reduction, allowed for a pleasant working environment without excessive energy use. Detailed rainfall analysis, utilising a century of data, enabled very accurate prediction of rain- and storm-water collection capacity. A unique design service was that of solvent reticulation throughout the laboratories.

Mechanical design and project management for complete cold-room replacement and extension. High efficiency compressors, close analysis of cooks’ workflow, BMS integration, and quality panelling minimised energy consumption.

ESD and mechanical services design for the redeveloped Brisbane City Hall. This challenging project faced significant cost and environmental issues as well as heritage issues.

ESD & Mechanical Services. Rob worked with the infection control nurses to redevelop culturally-appropriate standards for healthcare for PNG occupants. This was work using different thermal comfort & ventilation standards to promote a sophisticated adoption of natural ventilation & mechanical ventilation to this historically-significant hospital.

Project Leader for this building, directing all services and managing air-tightness for the builder. Mechanical Design Leader, thermal simulation, and complex controls specification for this 6-Star Green Star rated building. Submissions for Design & As Built Green Star Ratings

Project Leader for this innovative 5 Green Star coastal office building designed to house Queensland’s EPA. Features designed to achieve Green Star accreditation include seawater cooling, rainwater harvesting, and natural lighting.

Mechanical Designer during this refurbishment of a three-storey office block. Project management, detailed HVAC design, and client liaison were all important in achieving the improved comfort levels required by the tenants.

Project Leader for this building, directing all services and managing air-tightness for the builder. Mechanical Design Leader, thermal simulation, and complex controls specification for this 6-Star Green Star rated building. Submissions for Design & As Built Green Star Ratings

This 5-Star certified Green Star project required detailed, accurate energy modelling of their HVAC to predict total energy use.

Project Leader for this innovative 5 Green Star coastal office building designed to house Queensland’s EPA. Features designed to achieve Green Star accreditation include seawater cooling, rainwater harvesting, and natural lighting.

Mechanical Designer during this refurbishment of a three-storey office block. Project management, detailed HVAC design, and client liaison were all important in achieving the improved comfort levels required by the tenants.

Detailed daylighting, thermal comfort, and solar access modelling was undertaken to meet low energy consumption targets and Green Star reporting requirements.

Working in an integrated services team; simulation enabled the quantitative value of chilled water storage and night chiller operation to be determined. Energy consumption determination and thermal comfort prediction was also undertaken. This was a 5 Star Green Star As Built Project.

The building faced a series of problems in 2011, ranging from non-existence to serious non-compliance in stair pressurisation, smoke exhaust, fire sprinklers, fire hydrants, fire detection and fire water supply. Using fire engineering and extensive QFES negotiation, Rob developed the working prototype of “activated sub-ducts” which enabled the building to have a smoke exhaust riser. Other problems were resolved with fire engineering

In 2016, the building failed compliance audits for maintenance. The building had a unique passive venting system which appeared to be untested for it’s lifetime. Rob tested the system and repaired it’s defects which included developing a decelerating restraint for the passive vent system to make it safe for annual compliance.

Green Star and ESD consulting on this important building, with a clear focus on indoor environment quality.

Independent Commissioning Agent for this commercial office development, including all services and Green Star.

Independent Commissioning Agent for this development comprising Defence offices and Mess Hall, including all services and Green Star.

Independent Commissioning Agent for this mixed-use development including commercial office, retail, and medical offices, including all services and Green Star. This commission was not completed.

Independent Commissioning Agent for this mixed-use development including commercial office, retail, and medical offices, including all services and Green Star.

Direction of mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and fire services commissioning where projects have failed to achieve requirements. This includes 127 Creek Street Rectification (M/H/F/E), Lamb Shop Kitchen Rectification (M/H/E), Sofitel Brisbane Restaurant Rectification (M/E/H), and Arlington Apartments (F/M/H).

Pool Water Treatment and Mechanical Designer for this facility incorporating pools, office and Creche suites. The brief required an extraordinarily green response and significant renewable energy.

Pool Water Treatment and Mechanical Designer for this facility incorporating pools, office, and waterslides.

Pool Water Treatment and Building Services Design Coordinator for this facility incorporating new and refurbished pools, offices, and gym.

Building Services Design Coordinator for this facility incorporating pools, waterslides, in-pool movies and office suites. The brief required an extraordinarily green response as well as significant energy and water saving measures.

Mechanical and ESD Consultant for this showcase cultural building in the challenging climate of Mt Isa.

This large, challenging design required advice on how to improve comfort and reduce energy use. CFD and thermal modelling, together with architectural workshops, enabled an innovative, dual-shaded-skin design to be tested.

Replacement of existing cold rooms servicing commercial kitchen, working within tight time schedules.

Project Leader and Mechanical Designer for this facility incorporating pools, offices, and Creche suites. The brief required an extraordinarily green response and a tri-generation system was required to satisfy these requirements. Automated mixed mode and daylight harvesting were also incorporated.

Offline Green Star Retail Centre assessment for this large shopping centre extension. Energy modelling, daylighting modelling, and risk management were crucial.

Green Star consultancy for this project including Design & As Built Submissions.

ESD advice and mechanical design for this shopping strip. Using insulated tilt panel and wind turbines, shops can operate without air-conditioning for the majority of operating hours.

Mechanical Designer for this series of large shopping centres. Using rooftop units, these units were configured to suit local conditions and assist in fire safety ventilation.

All building services consultancy for this hotel in Brisbane CBD. I provided mechanical services design and specifications & oversight on remaining services for the 2013 upgrade of this hotel.

Mechanical Services consultancy for this international hotel in Bali. As part of a team, I provided design and specifications & construction guidance for the services installed in the Hotel complex.

Mechanical Services consultancy for this international airport hotel in Jakarta. I provided design and specifications & construction guidance on the use of fresh air preconditioning and the prevention of mould.

Mechanical Services consultancy for this famous development in Honolulu. I provided guidance on chilled water energy use and the prevention of mould. This was immediately following the mould incidents at this hotel.

Mechanical Services technical work for this large city hotel in Sydney. I oversaw the design of the VRF systems, which were considered novel at the time. Key design drivers were management simplicity and prevention of mould.

Mechanical Services technical work for this large multi-level student accommodation development in Brisbane. I oversaw the design of an innovative VRF system complete with trickle ventilators. Key design drivers were energy use and prevention of mould.

Mechanical Services technical work for this large multi-level student accommodation development in Carlton. I oversaw the design of an innovative VRF system complete with air heat recovery. Key design drivers were energy use and prevention of mould.

Ventilation design for the student accommodation centre, using performance approaches.

Review and proposed modifications for Chilled Water plant in a student accommodation centre. The plant was originally over-sized, leading to control problems and difficulties with authorities.

I participated in a team that provided mechanical services design & documentation for this series of high rise hotels and residences around the Dukuh Golf Course.

Mechanical Services technical work for this large multi-level aged care development in Durack. I oversaw the design of an innovative VRF system complete air heat recovery. Key design drivers were energy use and plant behaviour, so thermal modelling and computational fluid dynamics were used to optimise the design of facades and natural ventilation.

Mechanical Services technical work for this aged care development in Robertson. I oversaw the design of VRF systems complete with air heat recovery. There was also an indoor pool hall to be considered. Key design drivers were energy use and condensation risk. Thermal modelling was extensively used to optimise the design of facades and ventilation.

Mechanical Services technical work for this aged care development in Springfield. I oversaw the design of VRF systems complete with air heat recovery. Key design drivers were energy use and management simplicity.

ESD Development Application advice to reduce energy and water consumption. The apartment design was modified to improve thermal comfort, improve natural ventilation, and reduce solar gain.

ESD technical work for this large multi-use development on the Gold Coast. Key design drivers were energy use and wind behaviour, so thermal modelling and computational fluid dynamics were used to optimise the design of facades and natural ventilation.

ESD and Building Services technical work for many (20+) large multi-use development on the Gold Coast. Key design drivers are usually energy use and wind behaviour, so thermal modelling and computational fluid dynamics were used to optimise the design of facades and natural ventilation. Often Green Star ratings are proposed for these developments to achieve plot ratio bonuses.

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Mechanical design, integrating ESD into office areas. For the church area, optimal natural ventilation was designed using Computational Fluid Dynamics and thermal simulation.

Glare and daylight control were essential for this school in Alice Springs. Initial advice was followed with Green Star reporting and simulation to tune facade elements.

Heat transfer and mechanical design detail for this innovative naturally ventilated, radiantly-cooled school.

ESD project leadership from the project’s inception enabled integrated and innovate features to be incorporated at reasonable cost. An intelligent natural ventilation system and operable external shading greatly reduces energy consumption and improves occupant satisfaction.

ESD project leadership from the project’s inception enabled integrated and innovate features to be incorporated at reasonable cost. An intelligent natural ventilation system and operable external shading greatly reduces energy consumption and improves occupant satisfaction. Labyrinth cooling is enhanced through the use of Phase Change Materials to supply Task Air cooling to workstations.

Mechanical leadership and ESD detail for this secondary school’s 10 rooms science and computing centre. Ample daylighting required clever use of shading to limit solar gain. In turn, this enabled natural ventilation to be used for most of the year. Electrical sub-metering and exposed services enabled the building to be used as a live experiment in resource use, PV electricity, and climate for the students.

This long-term project required ESD advice from climate analysis through to detailed daylight and facade studies.

This long-term project required ESD advice from climate analysis through to detailed daylight and facade studies.

This long-term project required ESD advice from climate analysis through to detailed daylight and facade studies.

ESD advice on appropriate energy consumption targets. The myriad of ESD documents – federal, state, local, and international mean that selecting and using the appropriate tool at DA stage is vital.

Thermal modelling and energy simulation to determine effectiveness of proposed mechanical system. Revised zoning and openable, secure windows allowed for a reduction in energy consumption and improved occupant amenity.

Thermal modelling and energy simulation to determine effectiveness of proposed mechanical system. Revised zoning and openable, secure windows allowed for a reduction in energy consumption and improved occupant amenity.

Mechanical design, thermal modelling and energy simulation to design effectiveness of proposed mechanical system.

Participation in Technical Working Group for the new Green Star tool. This group provides technical guidance on various ESD and engineering factors involved in industrial building construction.

Rob was instrumental in developing Task Air as a concept and assisting in technical promotions. Rob has created design manuals, testing procedures and developed systems for Task Air to promote their product throughout the world. Rob is responsible for international distribution.

Rob has been a Green Star Assessor since 2009 and has contributed to GBCA working groups, peer reviews and was a Silver Sponsor for the Performance Rating Tool.

From 2000 to 2016, Rob was a regular lecturer in University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology and Griffith University on the subjects of Mechanical Services, Sustainability & Integrated Design.

Rob developed the use of olfactory science to predict odour nuisance. Using CFD and olfactory research, Rob is able to predict the frequency and likelihood of odour detection and odour nuisance, and design the extent of remediation.

Rob developed the process of using the US Standard UL710B and also VDI 2052 to certify the performance of specific ventilation equipment can match the current Australian Standard AS1668.2. This has included reviewing and certifying ventilated ceiling projects throughout Australia, most famously including Australian Parliament House. This has also included testing and certification of 50+ models of recirculating hoods or low flow hoods throughout Australia. Council officers and approval authorities have access to the list of equipment SEED has certified through the Kitchen Equipment Portal on the SEED website.

Rob patented a method of using VRV technology in “chilled beam” air-conditioning such that the best of both systems could provide superior environments for hotel and aged care facilities. The patent has been purchased by KRANTZ and is now in production development. The VRF INDUCT allows draft-free air conditioning with low energy and noise levels. It is specifically designed so that any staff can easily wipe clean the internal surface of the air conditioner maintaining a healthy odour-free environment

Rob has developed and patented the use of curved face surfaces on kitchen exhaust hoods so as to improve fume capture. This technique allows the installer to provide more cooking equipment for a specific kitchen exhaust air allowance.