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Net zero heroes Buildings without emissions.
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ECOLIBRIUM • SEPTEMBER 201822
F E A T U R E
The Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH) is a state-of-the-art health facility and teaching hospital located in the heart of the Sunshine Coast between Caloundra and Noosa.
Completed in late 2016, it was delivered by the Queensland government under a public private partnership (PPP) contract with Exemplar Health – a consortium comprising Lendlease, Siemens and Capella Capital, with partners Spotless Facilities Services, SCA Architects (Architectus and HDR) and Aurecon.
Aurecon was engaged by D&C contractor Lendlease to provide civil, structural (excluding carparks), mechanical, electrical, ICT, hydraulic engineering and wind modelling, as well as ESD services. AE Smith was appointed as mechanical services contractor on the project.
The main hospital building provides 164,000m² of space across six functional
levels to accommodate 450 beds. But it has been designed to build upon that capacity, with plans to have 738 beds in 2021.
Termed a “healthy hospital”, it has been constructed from non-toxic materials, and offers patients, staff and visitors fresh air and natural light. The interior design links seamlessly with the outdoors, incorporating elements such as open landscaped courtyards and well-ventilated public spaces to aid in patient recovery.
THE PATH TO GREEN STARThe design phase afforded to this project was six months shorter than the similarly-sized Gold Coast University Hospital project, and prompted the project team to adopt an accelerated design program.
Lendlease’s Ross Tucker led the design team on the fastest program to date of any health facility of this scale in Australia.
“The scale, speed and complexity required a unique set of strategies to plan and execute the user consultation and design development with certainty,” says Tucker.
As well as utilising a planning, data management and BIM collaboration tool, the team relied on an online data management and collaboration platform to manage Green Star, operations and maintenance (O&M) and commissioning data.
Early in the bid phases of the project, Lendlease and Aurecon realised the scale and complexity of the project was not well suited to the GBCA’s Green Star Healthcare V1 tool.
The original ambition had been for minimum 4 star Green Star Healthcare Design and As-Built ratings. But the epiphany about the rating led Aurecon
Shine onThe $1.8 billion Sunshine Coast University Hospital is the largest building in Australia to have received 6 star Green Star Design and As-Built Healthcare V1 ratings from the Green Building Council of Australia. The path to this milestone, however, was anything but straightforward, as Sean McGowan discovered.
Incorporating green
design in hospital
infrastructure . . .
can deliver an
8.5 per cent
reduction in
hospital stays
23SEPTEMBER 2018 • ECOLIBRIUM
and Lendlease to embark on a process with the GBCA to tailor and tune the tool. The aim was to fairly and equitably award the project a Green Star rating (See breakout).
“The incredibly high standard achieved on SCUH is reflective of our vision to create the best places, underpinned by a genuine belief that the built environment
plays a critical role in delivering real action on climate change and contributing positively to the health and wellbeing of people,” says Tucker.
“Lendlease and Aurecon worked closely with the GBCA for over a year to craft a customised tool,” adds Quentin Jackson, M.AIRAH, Aurecon’s sustainable designleader for Queensland.
“It has now been successfully used on the project to achieve 6 star Design and As-Built ratings, which has set a new benchmark in green healthcare, representing world leadership in sustainable healthcare design and construction.”
The project included eight sub-building components, making up under a single
The SCUH was rated using
a customised Green Star tool.
ECOLIBRIUM • SEPTEMBER 201824
F E A T U R E
building rating almost 250,000m² gross floor area – 151,199m² for the hospital and 98,390m² of carparks.
To track such a large project throughout construction required the close collaboration of the design and delivery team, with project-specific tools also created.
Project-specific sub trade agreements included the requirement for Green Star reporting and documentation before final payments would be made, while a project materials tracker recorded all materials used on the project and automatically assessed them against the Green Star criteria to provide instantaneous material compliance checks.
A customised online documentation management tool, used in collaboration with an online data management and collaboration platform, was used to store and record some 30,000 Green Star related records, including an approvals process.
“This tool has then been used, in what is believed as a first for a Green Star rating, in the GBCA assessment process allowing the assessor to log in directly
and view any receipt, delivery docket or piece of evidence related to the Green Star submission,” says Jackson.
New digital methods to connect data were also used to analyse the performance of the hospital on such a large scale.
“A digital environmental model of the hospital was created to analyse the amount of daylight in internal spaces,” says Tucker.
“From this, data for 6,500 rooms was transferred digitally to Revit where it was automatically translated onto floor plans. It allowed both a visual and digital calculation of the percentage of occupied spaces with high levels of natural light.”
CHANGING TACKAfter Exemplar Health won the contract to develop the hospital, the project team sought further opportunities to optimise the mechanical services design on which the bid had been based.
In agreeing to modify the design, Aurecon immediately commenced finding a new mechanical solution.
Requirements were that the new solution did not add cost to the project and would not need more plantroom or riser space than had been allowed in the architectural design.
Aurecon’s design director for mechanical engineering, Stephen Logan, was engaged to specifically help address this issue.
The first solution tabled complied with the brief, but added more than 100 additional air-handling units – creating a cost penalty that theconsortium could not tolerate.
This triggered a major review, at which point an innovative twin-duct system was proposed.
Aurecon was given 48 hours to take the idea away, refine it, compare it to other possible solutions and look for flaws.
MODULAR NUMBERS
1,380,000 The number of metresof modular electrical cable required for the project.
22,000 The number of fixedmodular wiring accessories used in the main hospital building.
52 The number of modularmechanical risers manufactured to reduce site waste and promote labour efficiency.
INNOVATION AWARDEDFor his work on the twin-duct HVAC design implemented at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Aurecon’s design director for mechanical engineering Stephen Logan was recently recognised by Engineers Australia as one of Australia’s most innovative engineers.
A digital environmental model was created to analyse the amount of daylight in internal spaces.
ECOLIBRIUM • SEPTEMBER 201826
F E A T U R E
“The team worked collaboratively as a group,” Logan says. “We found that the new concept was the only solution that could meet the stringent performance brief, without adding excessive cost or requiring larger plantrooms or risers.”
An additional benefit of this solution was that it used commercially available
technology in an entirely new way. No new machinery or commissioning techniques had to be invented.
“After some more work on the control and commissioning methodology,” Logan says, “the complete design concept was presented to the Lendlease and Exemplar Health team, and then
subsequently Queensland Health who all accepted the idea when accompanied by an independent supportive review.”
This innovative system worked by cold air being supplied in one duct, with cool air delivered in the other. This is mixed in the field to suit load conditions in localised areas, with conventional variable-air volume (VAV) terminals providing localised control.
“In this way, the least possible amount of air is distributed, and no re-heat is required,” Logan says. “It’s simple, but revolutionary.”
CUTTING ENERGYAs part of the project’s sustainability aims, a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption and the minimisation of operating costs were key requirements. This has resulted in a design that, upon full occupancy of the hospital in 2021, is predicted to have an energy consumption reduction of at least 20 per cent. This represents a 40 per cent peak energy demand reduction compared to an equivalent facility.
This will realise significant operational savings for a 24/7 tertiary-level hospital, and delivers savings on energy costs year after year.
1. Scale and complexity of these large projects need robust tools to support design process.
2. Achieving this level of excellence on a project of such scale requires focus, collaboration and a dedicated and collaborative project team committed to a common goal.
3. The higher green rating was achieved without additional cost to the state, and was attributable to the diligence of the project team in managing the design, procurement and construction process, the innovative solutions implemented, and in some instances, exceeding benchmarks in the Green Star rating tool.
4. The project was whole-of-life sensitive. Major system-type decisions were validated against a whole-of-life financial modelling tool provided by the facility management team. Only solutions that provided measurable gains were implemented – this included ESD energy and water saving initiatives.
“The project team has surpassed the client’s expectation in achieving a 6 star Green Star – Healthcare V1 As-Built rating. The As-Built rating confirms that the design intentions have been realised in construction.”
LESSONS FROM THE CONTRACTORLendlease’s Ross Tucker shares some of the lessons and keys to success that can be taken from the Sunshine Coast University Hospital project’s sustainability journey.
Projects of this scale and complexity require robust tools to support the design process.
27SEPTEMBER 2018 • ECOLIBRIUM
F E A T U R E
Two major strategies contribute to this achievement – the use of thermal energy storage, and solar hot water technologies. Combined, they reduce peak energy demand by approximately 22 per cent, representing a 2,063kW reduction.
Tucker says the solar hot water heat exchange with gas boost system designed for the project consists of 440m² of solar collectors and 20 condensing gas units, each with a capacity of 217MJ.
“The 50,000kWh thermal energy solution consists of two 3,000,000L tanks that house water after it has been through a heat exchange process,” Tucker says.
“Two large thermal energy storage tanks provide thermal energy storage as well as redundancy for the chilled water plant. In addition, this provides a large night-time base cooling load to ensure the chillers can operate continuously without cycling, ensuring there are no low-load chilled water issues.”
Water is stored in the tanks at a constant temperature of 4°C. Cooling this water at night and using it through the day reduced the need for the energy-intensive water chiller to run at full capacity at peak times during the day.
By managing the water requirements for mechanical systems in this way, peak energy demand is reduced by a further 9 per cent, or 857kW.
Other design features contributing to the peak energy demand reduction include the buildings’ passive design, glazing and shading, lighting controls, luminaires, high-efficiency fans and pumps, variable-speed drives, high-
efficiency motors and high-CoP (coefficient of performance) chillers.
Large healthcare facilities such as the Sunshine Coast University Hospital require extensive use of chilled water and thermal energy. The project team therefore responded to the challenges of providing efficient mechanical services through innovative cooling, heating, storage and pumping solutions.
MEDICAL GASESThe medical gas systems at Sunshine Coast University Hospital are clinical life-support systems. As such, a considered approach was taken to the design while at the same time being robust in redundancy and future-proofing measures.
The medical gas systems within the hospital include:
• 36,000L of cryogenic liquid oxygen storage
• 12,700L/min total medical air system capacity
• 5,843 total medical gas outlets across the facility
• 19 different types of medical services pendants, with 184 in total
• 77 different types of medical services panels, with 2,472 in total
• 145 medical gas alarm panels
• 100 zone isolation valve boxes.
The solar hot water heat exchange with gas boost system uses 440m² of solar collectors.
28
F E A T U R E
A chilled water plant located in the Facilities Management Centre (FMC) supplies chilled water via a chilled water reticulation system. This provides cooling for the facility’s HVAC systems, data centre and medical equipment.
The chilled water ring main runs from the FMC, via the link bridge, to secondary pumps located on Level 3 of the West Building. The ring main is fitted with isolation valves to allow for all take-off points to be back-fed from opposite
directions. Any portion of the ring main loop can be removed from service without compromising full service to any building area.
“In normal operation, the ring main will flow through both directions at 50 per cent velocity, delivering a significant reduction in pumping pressure and energy consumption,” says Adrian Jenkins, Aurecon’s major projects director.
This chilled water plant consists of four 4,500kWr variable speed water-cooled centrifugal chillers operating on R134a and installed in a series counter-flow arrangement for energy efficient operation. Cooling towers are matched to each pair of chillers to provide two independent cooling water circuits. Chilled water pumps reticulate the water around the facility via a primary-secondary pumping system, which is both an energy efficient and controllable pumping solution.
Condenser water pumps provide full redundancy for system back up (see breakout).
Equilibrium HP Be Impressed 210X150mm 3mmBleed v1.indd 1 19/10/2015 12:17 pm
RECLAIMED CONDENSATEAmong the many environmentally sustainable design features of Sunshine Coast University Hospital is a condensate water reclamation system, which will harvest and reuse approximately 19 million litres of water per annum from mechanical systems at an average flow rate of 2,166L per hour.
Once collected from the HVAC systems, this water is pumped from one of three condensate pump stations into a treatment tank before being pumped to a reclaimed water storage tank where it is held for use in heat rejection and irrigation.
“The condensate water reclamation system in place at Sunshine Coast University Hospital contributes to the project’s goal of exceeding a 50 per cent reduction in potable water consumption for heat rejection, and a 90 per cent reduction in potable water use for irrigation purposes,” says Jackson.
29SEPTEMBER 2018 • ECOLIBRIUM
F E A T U R E
AIR TIGHTNESS A KEYEarly in the design process, the goal of achieving an airtight building envelope was established. This was approached as part of a wider process of envelope commissioning, including design reviews, appropriate product selections and rigorous in-field inspections and testing.
“Keeping occupants comfortable in the hot and humid Queensland summer is important, but hospitals also benefit from air tightness by achieving better control over the indoor environment,” says Tucker.
“Building envelope air tightness is key to moisture management, energy conservation and HVAC control.”
The air tightness strategy for the Sunshine Coast University Hospital included the first large-scale air tightness test of a hospital façade in Australia.
Aurecon identified a target air leakage rate of 9.0m³/hr·m² at 50 Pascals. This is considered normal for hospitals
under the UK Air Tightness Testing and Measurement Association’s Technical Standard L2.
A self-adhered waterproofing material was used to form the air barrier over concrete and frame-built walls.
Before construction reached full speed, Tucker says a mock-up section of building façade was subjected to water-spray tests
to evaluate the effectiveness of the air and water barriers, as well as sealants. During this process, examples of best-practice fire-stopping and air-sealing details were also on display for trades.
Nearing the end of construction, an air tightness testing and consulting company used blower doors to test the leakage rate of the walls, floors and roofs of a three-floor section of the building.
Hospitals benefit from air tightness
by achieving better control over the
indoor environment.
ECOLIBRIUM • SEPTEMBER 201830
F E A T U R E
“The section of building façade tested had an air leakage rate of 3.2m³/hr·m²,” Tucker says. “This is better than best practice for a hospital listed under the Green Star Innovative Challenge – defined as 5.0 m³/hr·m² at 50 Pascals.
“The benefits will come in the form of reduced energy costs, improved control of the indoor environment, and improved occupant comfort.”
Air tightness results in context
Permeability at 50Pa [m3/hr·m2]
0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0
UK Buildingregulations 2010Part L2A (10.0)
ATTMA Normalpractice forhospitals* (9.0)
International energyconservation code 2015 (5.6)
ATTMA Best practice for hospitals (5.0)
US Army corps of engineers standard (3.6)
Sunshine Coast University Hospital (3.2)
6.0
*threshold specifiedin SCUH project brief.
Source: Efficiency Matrix.
7.0 8.0 9.0 10.0
ACHIEVING THE GREEN HEALTH
DREAMAccording to GBCA CEO Romilly Madew, the Sunshine Coast University Hospital is an international exemplar of the type of resilient, extremely high-performance and person-orientated pieces of public health infrastructure that Australia needs into the future.
Research by the World Green Building Council has shown that incorporating green design in hospital infrastructure has enormous benefits. It can deliver an 8.5 per cent reduction in hospital stays, 15 per cent faster recovery rates, a 22 per cent reduction in the need for pain medication and an 11 per cent reduction in secondary infections.
The benefits of a green hospital also extend to staff wellbeing. Green hospitals create an environment that reduces stress, and measurably improves performance and the delivery of patient care. It also contributes to increased employee retention, which correlates with reduced turnover, cost savings and smoother overall operations. Given staff retention is consistently ranked among the top five issues for hospitals, these are vital issues.
“I congratulate Lendlease and Aurecon for their unrelenting commitment to sustainability, their world-leading innovation and their willingness to work with us to achieve outcomes that will benefit the Sunshine Coast community for decades to come,” says Madew.
GUARDED BLOWER DOORThe test method used to evaluate the exterior envelope at Sunshine Coast University Hospital was a pressure-neutralised test, or “guarded” blower door test.
To perform this test, one compartment of the building is initially pressurised, followed by neighbouring compartments that share interior surfaces with the first compartment, to the same level.
“Since all these compartments share the same pressure, the pressure acting on their shared surfaces effectively becomes zero, and any air leakage pathways are neutralised,” says Lendlease’s Ross Tucker.
“In this way, the leakage of selected surfaces can be determined by cancelling out the leakage from neighbouring spaces. Given the size and complexity of the project, this was the only practical way to confirm the air tightness of the exterior envelope.”
Efficiency Matrix conducted a whole-building blower door test. This aims to pressurise an entire building at the same time, which would have required at least 36 fans (based on a rough estimate of the envelope of one half of the hospital building). This was deemed to not be practical for the project.
SCUH has been described as an exemplar healthcare project.
ECOLIBRIUM • SEPTEMBER 201832
F E A T U R E
WORLD-LEADING PRACTICESunshine Coast University Hospital was completed in November 2016, and opened to the public in April 2017.
An important piece of social infrastructure, it will contribute significantly to better healthcare services across Queensland’s Sunshine Coast region for generations to come.
Aurecon associate Aditi Saha led the site-based engineering team for almost three years. She says the completion of the Sunshine Coast University Hospital represents over five years of hard work, dedication and passion from the entire project team.
“Witnessing the transformation of the site from a blank canvas to its final built form has been inspirational,” Saha says.
The project was a finalist in last year’s AIRAH Award for Excellence in Sustainability, won Gold for Sustainability in Design at the Consult Australia Awards for Excellence and won the Public Category for the Sustainability Awards.
Sunshine Coast University Hospital has been named a finalist in this month’s World Green Building Council’s APN Awards under the Leadership in Sustainable Design and Performance category.
“We are incredibly proud of the efforts of a very large workforce in the design and construction of this once-in-a-lifetime project,” says Tucker. “It has exceeded the client’s expectation and delivered world-leading practice.” ❚
■ Architect: The Retail Group
■ Airtightness
consultant: Efficiency Matrix■ Architect: SCA Architects
(Architectus and HDR)■ D&C contractor: Lendlease■ Civil and structural engineer:
Aurecon■ Client: Queensland Health■ ESD engineer: Aurecon■ Independent commissioning
agent: Engineering Commissioning Services
■ Mechanical, electrical and hydraulics engineer: Aurecon
■ Mechanical services contractor: AE Smith
The equipment
■ AHUs: GJ Walker■ Air tightness testing:
Efficiency Matrix■ Attenuators: Fantech■ BMS: Schneider■ Boilers: Simons Boilers■ Ceiling cassette units: Clivet■ Chillers: York■ Chiller control system:
Johnson Controls■ Controls: Schneider■ Cooling towers: BAC■ CRAC: Emerson (Vertiv)■ CHW balancing valves:
Tour & Anderson (IMI Hydronics)
■ CHW control valves: Siemens■ Damper actuators:
Schneider Electric■ Dampers – volume control:
Grilletech■ Dampers – fire: Bullock■ Diffusers – VAV: Rickard■ Diffusers and grilles
– conventional: Air Grilles, Polyaire, Trox
■ Duct: AE Smith■ EDH:
Advanced Access and Digital Control
■ Fans: Fantech■ Fire wrap: Trafalgar■ Filters – AHU: Airepure■ FCUs: GJ Walker■ Heat exchangers: Sondex■ HEPA filters: Airepure■ Pressure stabilisers: Apreco■ Pumps – primary and
secondary: Skyline Pumps
■ Pumps – tertiary: Grundfos■ Salt filters: Camfil■ Sensors: Schneider■ Thermal insulation – duct:
Bradford■ Thermal insulation – pipe:
Polystyrene Products/Thermobreak Tube
■ VAV, CAV, MB: Celmec■ VSD: ABB
(Source: Aurecon)
PROJECT AT A GLANCE
The personnel
A self-adhered waterproofing material was used to form the air barrier over walls.
