December 2009
Newsletter Number 66
Melbourne Exhibition Convention & Centre se
ts the stan dard
The newly completed Melbourne Convention Centre has been fully integrated with the Melbourne Exhibition Centre to create a modern, user-friendly and versatile environment that makes an architectural statement on the banks of the Yarra River.
“With a total building capacity of 22,000 people, you need to make sure there are no hiccups It is the first convention centre in the world to be awarded a 6 star with the ventilation system,” Mike said. “To ensure a high level Green Star environmental rating. It also won the Banksia Environmental of reliability we have standby fans, pumps and air handling Foundation Built Environment Award; an award presented for buildings, systems.” infrastructure, services and technologies that incorporate significant A major feature of the centre is the 5000 seat plenary hall with sustainable development principles and practices. its gala seating system. “This unique spiral lifting device allows The building’s innovative water management system captures and uses flexible seating configurations in a 510 square metre room that all rain water and is complete with its own black water treatment plant. can be divided into three self-contained, acoustically separate theatres. Solar hot water systems and energy efficient lighting have also been “Visitors to the convention centre breathe comfortably thanks to incorporated to reduce energy consumption. under-floor displacement air systems fitted with carbon dioxide Mike Reid from James L Williams Pty Ltd, a leading mechanical monitoring and control in the plenary hall and foyer.” contractor in Victoria, said an energy efficient HVAC system was Mike said the technical complexity, large scale and tight achieved by conditioning an occupied area up to 2.5 metres above the construction program of the project had combined to make the floor in open spaces through low velocity systems and high efficiency motors. He said 149 Fantech fans were selected for their high efficiency convention centre a huge challenge. “At the peak of the project there were more than 1000 workers on site, and we were able to and there was extensive use of primary and secondary pumping deliver the project on time,” he said. systems incorporating variable speed drives to help limit energy consumption. The Melbourne Convention Centre and integrated Hilton Hotel were designed by Joint Venture Architects Woods Bagot and NH The main foyer, with its 18 metre glass façade fronting the Yarra River, has radiant slab heating and cooling to keep the occupants comfortable, Architecture for the Plenary Group consortium. while efficient chilled beams are used in the ground/mezzanine offices. The Melbourne Convention Centre opened in April 2009.
ZZoo oo panders pand ders to new ne guests g ests Two Giant Pandas will soon be on display at Adelaide Zoo. Three year old Wang Wang and his two year old mate Funi left China in late November, bound for a 10 year stay at Adelaide Zoo. To accommodate its new guests Adelaide Zoo has undergone a major construction project. In addition to the new Panda enclosure, the zoo has a new ticketing area and a function centre known as the Santos Conservation Centre. Giant Pandas are on the endangered species listing with only 1600 left in the wild. To protect the species and secure its long term survival, breeding pairs of Giant Pandas are loaned to zoos outside China. Adelaide Zoo’s Panda enclosure cost $8 million and includes a separate enclosure and day room for each Panda as well as sleeping dens and a nursery. Native to the high mountains and deep valleys of China, the Giant Pandas will be kept cool in Adelaide by chilled rocks. Haden Engineering’s Project
Manager J M John h G Grimwade i d said id tthe h rocks k had chilled water coils constructed from PVC Nitrile material embedded within the Glass Reinforced Concrete (GRC) rock. Chilled water enters the rock at 6°C and aims to maintain the surface of the rock at 12°C on a 25°C ambient day. “When the weather is too warm, 25°C or above, the Pandas will stay inside their day rooms where chilled water air handling units complete with heat recovery modules air-condition the room to maintain a maximum indoor temperature of 18°C,” he said. To help facilitate the air flow and cooling Fantech supplied a range of products including five in-line centrifugal fans and two in-line mixed-flow fans. The Panda enclosure is due to be opened to the public on 13 December.