Lincoln Square South – Student Accommodation – University of Melbourne

SEED Engineers has been engaged to deliver the complete mechanical services design and engineering consulting of the facility as part of the D&C contract. Starting from developing the concept design, all the way to IFC design including equipment selection and on-site coordination with other disciplines and construction advice, finishing with As-built drawings, certification and documentation.

Additionally, SEED Engineers has provided ESD services including energy feasibility analysis of different systems, energy modelling, performance solution involving carpark CO CFD modelling.”

Client: Auscool Airconditioning & Mechanical Services
Work Type: New-Build Design, Performance Approach, Verification Services – Assessment of Built Works
Sector: Apartment Complex, retail and car park
Size: Appx 30,000 sqm
Disciplines Engaged: Mechanical, Sustainability
The Challenges Faced
The project faced a number of major issues, namely, the coordination of mechanical services with the facade, underestimated electrical power requirements and lack of ceiling space to house all building services.
The Solution Provided
SEED Engineers has started the design process by reverse-engineering the tender design in order to re-estimate the electrical power requirements of the mechanical services within, which resulted in properly addressing and working alongside the client to provide the electrical infrastrcure required.

In terms of the mechanical services systems, SEED Engineers has conducted a detailed life-cycle analysis to study the feasability, cost and energy savings which resulted in changing the design to air-cooled VRF system instead of water-cooled VRF system. This approached has provided a much-needed extra space on the roof and within the risers as well due to eliminating the need of cooling towers, pumps and CCW piping.

Throughout the project, the design has been developed through multiple stages to meet very specific coordination requirements when services clashes where an obstacle, namly the coordination with hydraulic services within the ceiling space and the air intakes through the facade of the building.

Eventually, a number of innovative solutions have been provided that solved design and coordnation issues and managed to save time and cost as well. SEED Engineers has been involved in the commissioning process of the project and provided insights on meeting design targets.”