Darling Quarter project: a fusion of technology and sustainability

Darling Quarter is a redevelopment of the 1.5 ha ex-Sega World site located at the southern end of Sydney’s Darling Harbour, between Harbour Street and the Western Distributor Freeway, overlooking Tumbalong Park. The project consists of a low-rise, campus-style commercial development, known as Commonwealth Bank Place, with 58,000 m² of commercial space and 3000 m² of ground floor retail space across two new eight-storey buildings. In addition, there is a children’s theatre, a new park and playground area, and four levels of basement parking.

Global engineering consultancy firm Norman Disney & Young (NDY) in February this year won the Commissioning Project of the Year category at the 2012 Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) Awards in London for the commissioning management services it delivered on this project.

The development achieved a 6-star Green Star office V2 Design Rating and is targeting a 6-star Green Star V3 As-Built Rating and 5-star NABERS rating. The project incorporates a number of sustainability initiatives, including rainwater harvesting, on-site recycled water treatment, on-site trigeneration system, carbon emission reduction through energy-efficient design, recycled construction waste and a high-performance facade designed to maximise natural light and minimise heat gain.

Neil Caswell, who now heads up NDY’s new specialist commissioning company Engineering Commissioning Services, led NDY’s team working on the project. Caswell says the development ultimately is helping to change the way we look at commissioning management in Australia.

“Darling Quarter is one of only a few examples in Australia where technologies, including sustainability-focused innovations, have come together effectively,” says Caswell. “Many buildings don’t realise the full and ecological benefits that correctly tested and verified systems can unearth.

“We especially acknowledge the leadership and vision shown by Lend Lease, who recognised the importance of commissioning and engaged us for a comprehensive role far in excess of that required to fulfil their Green Star requirements.”

NDY’s responsibilities for the project included the development of a commissioning plan, review of design and contract documentation to provide input into the planning, inspection and witnessing, and reporting of the building services commissioning process.

Additionally, the NDY team introduced the commissioning strategies and standards, and delivered the review of workshop drawings and contractor documentation, including commissioning manuals; method statements and commissioning programs; the development of specific integrated systems testing (IST) procedures; the creation of the Building Users Guide (Green Star); and a final commissioning report.

During the project, NDY’s scope was expanded to include overseeing the commissioning of critical services provided for the major tenant, Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA). Within this role, NDY managed and documented the testing and commissioning of the critical service infrastructure, including standby power generation, uninterruptible power supplies and automatic power switching, along with critical cooling equipment. The commissioning exercise included both performance testing and the robust testing of equipment redundancy. NDY also was engaged as the integrated fitout’s Independent Commissioning Agent (ICA) to provide compliance with targeted credit under Green Star Office Interiors v1.1 rating.

NDY has recognised that specialised commissioning management skills and knowledge are essential in delivering today’s buildings and facilities, and to realise the potential of developing energy-saving initiatives. After the completion of the Darling Quarter project, NDY established a specialist company in Engineering Commissioning Services, who are dedicated to delivering the much-needed focus and expertise to this role. Engineering Commissioning Services is an independent commissioning management enterprise established by the NDY group and headed up by former NDY Construction Quality & Commissioning Manager Neil Caswell.