Category: projects

Client
Woodleigh School
Project Budget
$7M
Lead Consultant
McIldowie Partners
BRT Scope of Service Building Services Engineering from Sketch Design to Construction Completion

People-first solutions

A collaborative approach was essential in achieving the school’s aspirational sustainability goals. Building upon our longstanding working relationship with McIldowie Partners and established history working with Woodleigh School, and initiating open communication with sustainability consultant Joost Bakker—who the school engaged to drive the
project’s ambitious regenerative design—we took on both technical advisory and design roles, advocating for cost consideration, comfort, compliance and constructability. We worked closely with site operations and maintenance staff to ensure proposed systems aligned with existing campus infrastructure and operational capabilities.

We embraced the opportunity to transform building services into visible learning tools, positioning solar panels, battery storage, mechanical plant, and rainwater systems in accessible ground-mounted compounds adjacent to the pavilions. This strategic placement enables students to observe renewable energy systems in real-time, transforming technical infrastructure into practical educational resources.

Systems thinking approach

Our extensive education project experience enabled us to quickly recognise site infrastructure constraints and apply code requirements strategically to deliver value. Recognising the project’s budget priorities favoured investment in sustainability over infrastructure upgrades, we provided early design advice that leveraged building separation and sizing thresholds to eliminate costly fire services infrastructure requirements entirely, allowing the school to redirect substantial savings toward its environmental objectives.

Integrated service advantage

Our integrated, multidisciplinary approach proved essential in collaborating with the lead architect and Joost Bakker’s innovative, environmentally focused design proposals, providing agile solutions for new materials, and channelling big ideas into practical solutions while maintaining the project’s regenerative vision. The building’s innovative material selections required thoughtful services integration, including walls and ceilings constructed from Durra Panel—compressed recycled straw without glues or toxic materials—which required careful design consideration to eliminate the need to cut penetrations in the panelling and ensure the material’s environmental credentials and aesthetic intent were maintained. This holistic thinking seamlessly connected architectural vision, material innovation, and services delivery.

Going the extra mile

Our best-for-project approach effectively supported Woodleigh’s preference to engage specific trades they’d worked with successfully on previous projects. We collaborated with each contractor to understand their capabilities, developed appropriate documentation to enable ease of delivery, and ensured clear communication and proactive coordination throughout.

This approach successfully maintained design integrity and technical performance, whilst ensuring their trust in established trade partners enhanced rather than complicated project delivery.

Client
Waverley Christian College
Project Budget
$100M+ (across 20+ projects over 20 years)
Lead Consultant
Williams Ross Architects
BRT Scope of Service
Full Building Services
Engineering across multiple project stages

Our sustained relationship with the school began when Williams Ross Architects brought us on board to work on the significant redevelopment of their existing Pentecostal Church building, which required an upgrade to the power supply. Applying our cost-aware, big-picture, campus-focused approach, we proposed an innovative upgrade solution that demonstrated an immediate understanding of the College’s educational philosophy, cost orientation, and operational needs, thereby building deep trust from the outset.

Our integrated approach proves particularly valuable in this complex campus environment, where fire protection upgrades and infrastructure decisions impact multiple buildings. Working collaboratively with the school and Williams Ross Architects, we’ve developed design

standards that reflect the College’s specific needs—from understanding how teachers and students interact with digital lighting systems to addressing the technical challenges of building alongside heritage structures and managing fire separation requirements.

Through years of partnership, we’ve learned to anticipate campus-wide implications early, asking the right questions informed by our experience across diverse educational sites to find cost-effective solutions that serve both immediate project requirements and long-term campus development. This accumulated knowledge—understanding what could go wrong and the staging impacts of fire services upgrades enables us to identify challenges before they become costly problems, consistently delivering value where the College wants their investment focused.

Client
Victorian School
Building Authority
Project Budget
$7.6M
Lead Consultant
BSPN Architecture
BRT Scope of Service
Building Services
Engineering from
Masterplanning to
Defects Liability Period

Our four-year relationship with BSPN Architecture and experience with VSBA projects enabled us to balance the competing demands of heritage conservation and contemporary Building Quality Standards for Schools.

As the existing historic buildings had undergone multiple upgrades and changes over time, we needed to conduct thorough site services investigations to understand the existing conditions and determine upgrade requirements. We carefully assessed what could be reused or repurposed to minimise necessary upgrades to fire services and checked electrical systems to avoid costly infrastructure improvements. We also assessed the building services implications of parallel challenges, such as roof drainage issues, providing critical advice that proved essential

in managing cost implications and informing scope resolution. Working within the historic fabric required careful navigation—from determining how to conceal cable work within heritage walls to selecting and locating mechanical plant with consideration of protecting street views and minimising noise to neighbours.

Our systems thinking extended beyond the immediate buildings to consider the entire school campus. We upgraded fire services to enable compliance across adjacent buildings, advocating with the VSBA and architect to install fire hydrant infrastructure that serves the broader campus, delivering value that extends well beyond the immediate project scope.

Client
Victorian School
Building Authority
Project Budget
$32M
Lead Consultant
Kennedy Nolan
BRT Scope of Service
Building Services
Engineering from
Masterplanning to
Defects Liability Period

Bringing an established understanding of VSBA expectations, systems and requirements from our 50+ year working relationship, we engaged extensively with the School Principal, Vice Principals, and Business Manager at the project’s front end, applying our experience to fill gaps where direct teacher engagement wasn’t yet possible, and to develop design solutions that match the school’s aspiration for this campus to represent something new and different—a potential agent for change.

Our team added significant value during site masterplanning through our indepth, strategic understanding of site complexities. This included initiating early authority conversations to ensure that the high-voltage power lines traversing the site were rerouted and identifying that the bottom third of the site couldn’t connect to the

sewer via gravity, which fundamentally drove the school’s siting on the higher portion of the land to enable gravity drainage. We also identified a water main running through the middle of the site that informed building placement, liaising extensively with authorities and architects to ensure infrastructure realities informed design decisions early, preventing costly rework.

Understanding the harsh coastal environment, we specified high-grade external fittings treated specifically for salt exposure and documented comprehensively to prevent builder substitutions—an approach informed by experience with novated design and construct contracts where maintaining specification integrity proves critical to long-term performance.

Client
Emmanuel College
Warrnambool
Project Budget
$16M
Lead Consultant
Baldasso Cortese
BRT Scope of Service
Building Services
Engineering and
Sustainability from
Concept Design to
Construction Completion

Drawing upon our 15-year relationship with Emmanuel College and extensive experience with independent and Catholic school specialist facilities, we brought deep understanding of the requirements these facilities demand and what genuinely works in practice. Working across such a large campus presented complex coordination challenges, with multiple services connections requiring a thorough understanding of existing infrastructure and masterplanning considerations, and benefitting from our strong collaborative relationship with Baldasso Cortese.

Our commitment to engagement was exemplified in two full-day workshops with the school that drove an iterative design process and ensured the building would authentically serve their teaching and learning needs. We guided the College through rigorous analysis of the gas

versus electric decision, presenting comprehensive cost modelling and payback analysis for photovoltaic panels and full electrification that demonstrated both financial and environmental value, effectively translating technical complexity into clear decision-making information.

Our established local understanding and connections informed the successful design outcome, with material specifications selected for their suitability to the harsh coastal environment to ensure long-term durability. Working with contractors from the Warrnambool region, with whom we had trusting, ongoing relationships, ensured ease of delivery through familiarity of communication and mutual understanding, helping to achieve outstanding outcomes for the College community.

Client
Stonnington City Council
Project Budget
$50M
Lead Consultant
Williams Ross Architects
BRT Scope of Service
Building Services
Engineering from
Masterplanning to
Defects Liability Period

Building on our established relationship with Council—having just delivered their new Council offices—we brought understanding of their decision-making processes and sensitivity to community stakeholder dynamics. The project presented stringent requirements, including four-star Green Star certification, demanding acoustic performance standards to protect neighbouring residents, and strategic metering considerations to support different users.

Our integrated service model provided exceptional value, with our dedicated Project Director serving as the single point of contact for the client, architect, large subconsultant team and user groups. We workshopped internally to

resolve the technical challenge of conditioning the expansive volume of the sealed stadium within tight height and sound limitations, presenting options for collaborative resolution with the architect and acoustic engineer. This resulted in air-to-air heat pumps installed internally, with a supporting system that met both acoustic requirements and operational needs.

When the project pivoted from gas to electric late in the design process, our extensive degasification experience, together with our collaborative relationships with the builder and mechanical contractor, enabled rapid adaptation without compromising programme or quality.

Client
Brimbank City Council
Project Budget
$65M
Lead Consultant
Williams Ross Architects
BRT Scope of Service
Building Services
Engineering from
Feasibility Study to
Construction Completion

People-first solutions

Our 30-year working relationship with Williams Ross Architects enabled us to collaboratively develop a detailed understanding of each user group’s distinct operational requirements and functional needs, informing our design of separate energy metering, security, and controls across aquatics, fitness, allied health tenancies, and community services. Our early establishment of close working relationships with the ESD Consultant (LCI) and Council to support Green Star certification targets also enabled us to successfully navigate the significant midproject shift to full electrification.

Systems thinking approach

Applying a comprehensive understanding of the facility ecosystem, we incorporated the unique ‘Air Balance’ Air Pressurisation System throughout the pool halls. This sophisticated control system maintains even temperature distribution, enhancing air quality and significantly reducing pool water evaporation, structural condensation, energy consumption, and maintenance costs.

Integrated service advantage

Our unique one-engineer approach enabled us to build strong working relationships founded on mutual respect and continuity, and guide design solutions that holistically consider the facility’s services ecosystem.

With our Director in Charge driving the design through the feasibility and schematic design phases, then maintaining oversight as our Associate led detailed design and tender documentation, we were able to leverage the combined aquatics expertise of both senior team members to develop mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and fire systems that seamlessly integrate with pool chemistry, structural considerations, and operational workflows.

Going the extra mile

We translated our extensive aquatic centre experience into practical guidance for Council, presenting design options with real-world performance data and clear recommendations that aligned sustainability goals with operational realities. When Council resolved to pursue full electrification mid-way through the project, BRT assisted Council in understanding the cost and holistic project implications. We then proactively explored heat pump technologies, providing detailed analysis of equipment options, refrigerant choices, and lifecycle costs.

Working collaboratively with the large consultant team and actively engaging with the D&C contractor ADCO and subcontractors, we built trust and understanding across the entire project network to achieve the best possible outcome for Council and the diverse users of the new centre.

Client
Victorian Infrastructure
Delivery Authority
Project Budget
$168M
Lead Consultant
Brand Architects
BRT Scope of Service
Building Services
Engineering for the
Technical Brief &
Template Design, and
Concept Design to
Construction Completion

Initially appointed to develop a technical brief and template designs for the extensive programme, we were subsequently brought on board to deliver the site-specific engineering adaptations to the selected project sites. We began by reviewing the two existing 1950s and 1980s facilities operated by Tweddle (Footscray) and Queen Elizabeth Centre (Noble Park), engaging with both operator user groups to understand their different approaches to early parenting support.

As the Department progressively brought operators on board for new sites, we worked to adapt templates to fit varying operational philosophies, advocating for end-users with VIDA while helping user groups understand the practical realities. We gathered feedback from completed buildings to gain operational insights into aspects such as

door controls, resident access to back-of-house areas and kitchens, and other key details, which informed service adjustments across subsequent sites.

Our involvement in the initial template development enabled an efficient rollout across all sites, with our integrated, multidisciplinary capability allowing one engineer to adapt designs to diverse site conditions. We led the design response to stringent acoustic requirements, conducting full assessments for each room type that informed mechanical system selections. Understanding how these facilities would operate, we designed modular air conditioning systems that enable future modifications as room configurations change recognising that some facilities might use spaces differently or need to adapt as operational needs evolve.

Client
Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority
Project Budget
$9.5M
Lead Consultant
Baldasso Cortese
BRT Scope of Service Building Services Engineering from Masterplanning to Defects Liability Period

We brought extensive experience redeveloping ageing regional health campuses to this project, utilising thorough existing conditions investigations, detailed conversations with key stakeholders, and consideration of local maintenance capability to drive design solutions.

Our people-first approach centred on extensive engagement with the operator’s maintenance team and nursing leadership through formal design workshops andregular on-site meetings. This collaborative relationship enabled us to understand the facility’s operational requirements and the local team’s maintenance capabilities, ensuring our design decisions would serve both immediate needs and longterm serviceability. We specified control systems for mechanical services that are specifically suited

to the location—not overly complex, easily modified, and installed electric heat pump hot water systems and a substantial solar array to significantly reduce reliance on the site’s existing LPG tank, delivering meaningful operational cost savings whilst advancing the facility’s environmental objectives.

Our experience across regional health projects has taught us that successful outcomes depend on building genuine rapport with maintenance teams and operators, translating respect for regional capabilities into practical solutions. Every engineering decision considered local serviceability alongside technical performance, ensuring this essential community facility would continue to serve effectively for decades to come.

Client
Winda-Mara Aboriginal
Corporation
Project Budget
$5M
Lead Consultant
Wendy Hastrich
Architects
BRT Scope of Service
Building Services
Engineering from
Masterplanning to
Construction Completion

Our 20-year working relationship with architect Wendy Hastrich enabled collaborative problem-solving throughout the iterative design process, balancing budget realities with the community’s aspirations for a facility that would be prominent yet provide privacy and dignity for all users.

With Project Director Mark Dinning providing hands-on project and design leadership throughout, and Associate David Murphy leading the engineering delivery, we dedicated time to building genuine stakeholder relationships and understanding how the facility would operate in practice. Through discussions with Winda-Mara Aboriginal Corporation and the architect, Wendy Hastrich, we delivered practical solutions including heat exchangers to increase outside air and fresh air levels, ensuring the

systems effectively integrated with and complemented the architectural design whilst meeting the client’s priorities for indoor air quality.

Despite the remote, regional location, we attended site regularly, maintaining a face-to-face presence that kept the project’s best interests central. Our approach prioritised simplicity appropriate to the local context and users—from the elevated central plant room designed for ease of maintenance and service delivery, to system selections that local contractors could install and maintain. These design decisions reflected respect for regional capabilities and minimised ongoing maintenance costs, ensuring this essential community facility would continue to serve the Winda-Mara community effectively for decades to come.