Category
Education
Location
Brisbane, QLD
Client
Queensland University of Technology
Value
$3.66M
Year
2026
Case Study
VAE Group was engaged as Principal Contractor to deliver Stage 1 of the QUT Kelvin Grove Q Block Central AHU Replacement project at the Kelvin Grove campus in Brisbane.
The project involved the staged upgrade of critical HVAC infrastructure within a live university environment, supporting teaching, research and specialist laboratory facilities, including PC2 laboratory spaces requiring tightly controlled environmental conditions and continuous operation.
With works taking place around operational teaching and laboratory areas, the project required careful staging, planned changeovers and detailed stakeholder coordination to maintain building functionality, laboratory pressure control, environmental stability and occupant comfort throughout delivery.
Upgrade of legacy BMS controllers and associated controls infrastructure
Installation of new electrical infrastructure, including MSSBs and associated control systems
Installation of duty/standby exhaust systems serving PC2 laboratory spaces
Installation of AHU-8.3 and associated chilled water, heating water and heat pump systems
Transitional ductwork and staged system changeovers
Progressive commissioning and performance testing within operational laboratory environments
Construction of new plant deck structure to facilitate access to new equipment and support future staged changeovers and HVAC infrastructures.
A key requirement of Stage 1 was maintaining stable PC2 laboratory conditions during the upgrade, supported by reliable ventilation, exhaust and pressure control.
Duty/standby exhaust systems and damper modulation provided active pressure control and improved resilience, with progressive commissioning used to verify performance in the live laboratory environment.
The project was delivered within an active university campus where teaching, research and daily building operations needed to continue throughout construction. The delivery was built around staged construction, coordinated changeovers and progressive commissioning to minimise disruption and maintain building functionality.
Improved HVAC reliability, resilience and environmental control while maintaining QUT’s Q Block as an operational environment for teaching, research and PC2 laboratory activities.
