Located at the University of Newcastle’s new city campus, Benmax was awarded the mechanical services contract for the Q Building (formerly referred to as Honeysuckle City Campus Stage 1A) located on the corner of Honeysuckle Drive and Worth Place by builder Hansen Yuncken.

The four storey building is the first in the university’s Honeysuckle Campus Master Plan and was fast-tracked by the NSW Government as part of their shovel ready infrastructure stimulus during the COVID-19 pandemic. Achieving strict sustainability targets, an exposed building services aesthetic, and highly efficient operating standards the 3,200 sqm new construction comprises CLT/glulam structure to reduce embodied carbon and minimise construction waste, rainwater capture for cooling towers and toilets, energy efficient HVAC systems, solar roof panels, and electrochromic glazing panels.

The building’s exterior employs a BMS controlled active façade which articulates with the dynamic HVAC systems to provide optimised temperature control within the occupied space. Building operators can actively manage ambient light and solar angle through control of individual glazing panels, rooms and/or entire elevations. The HVAC system features a constant and variable volume low temperature solution serving all levels affording benefits including reduced services footprint, reduced fan energy consumption, and when working concurrently through the BMS with the active façade, significant energy savings. Green Star energy modelling shows the system will use 63% less energy for heating and 70% less energy for cooling (compared to a Green Star reference case) and contribute to a 30% building water reduction.

The experience of the Benmax engineering and drafting team was crucial in supporting Hansen Yuncken and the UoN to meet the strict construction methodology and BIM technology techniques required for the build. The team successfully completed work on the project in May 2021.

Working in partnership with Hansen Yuncken, Benmax successfully delivered the mechanical services for the 3,200 sqm four storey new construction project incorporating innovative design and sustainability measures.

Since completion, the UoN Q Building has gone on to receive several industry accolades and we congratulate project partners for their achievements.