Australian Embassy in Ethiopia

Engineers Australia – Australian Engineering Excellence Awards 2016

Executive summary

Built Environment Collective provided structural and civil engineering consultancy services for the new Australian Embassy in Ethiopia. The project was completed late in 2014 at a cost of several million dollars.

Our commission supported the conversion of aluxury residence into a secure commercial facility commensurate with Australian Standards. Our Team’s involvement started with a one week in country scoping mission, where two prospective existing buildings were considered with respect to their ability to comply with Australian codes, and the ease with which they could be upgraded to meet federal government requirements and diplomatic considerations. The choice of location was informed by our structural investigation analysis and reporting. Design was undertaken in Brisbane, and our commission concluded following engineering inspections of the works in progress.

Structural design included consideration of seismic forces to inform strengthening of the existing structure.Selection and nomination of appropriate structural intervention methods and civil infrastructure was undertaken with careful consideration of the geographic location, in-country maintenance capability, and whole-of-life costs – as informed by our team’s previous experience with international projects.

Provision of project imagery and detailed information has been intentially limited due to security and confidentiality requirements.

Figure 1–Embassy Wall and Plaque

Despite a distance of nearly 13,000 kilometres, our small Brisbane based engineering consultancy was able to deliver an outstanding multi-discipline engineering consultancy service – consisting of structural and civil discipline contributions. Overcomingsignificant differences in terms of culture, local construction methodologies and resource capability, building codes and regulations, a luxury residence was transformed into an Embassy compound compliant with the highest international standards of safety and security.

BE Collective at the time of delivery consisted of three professional engineers and a complement of para-professional staff and contractors.

Figure 2 – Strengthening Example

1.ECONOMICContribution

The project contributes in a number of ways to localand national economies. Apart from the significant injection of capital, employment and investment into Ethiopia, the development and alteration works supported a triple bottom line sustainability outcome, in part due to due reuse/re-lifing of an existing structure.

BE Collective’s contribution to the Australian Embassy project contributed to both the Australian and Ethiopian economies. Selection and nomination of appropriate structural intervention methods and civil infrastructure was undertaken with careful consideration of the geographic location, in-country maintenance capability, and whole-of-life costs – as informed by our team’s previous experience with international projects.

2.Impact on the Quality of Life of the Relevant Communities

The Australian Embassy has been designed and developed with improved quality of life as its primary purpose.

As an inherent deliverable of the project, the professional contribution of BE Collective has supported improved access for Ethiopian people's and Australian nationals abroad to Australian diplomatic services; including travel visas, support and information, in a safe and efficient environment.

3.Signifigance of the Work as a Benchmark of Australian Engineering

BE Collective facilitated alterations to the existing residential structure, inclusiveof comprehensive strengthening and enhanced security, enabling compliance with both the AustralianBuilding Code as well as federal government diplomaticrequirements.

Strengthening with respect to imposed, seismic and security loadings necessitated sophisticated modellingand the implementation of materials and techniques commensurate with the Ethiopian construction industry.

Figure 3–Structural Revit Model

4.Extent to Which the Work Represents World Best Practices

Work on national embassies inherently demands the highest calibre of engineering consultancy. Representing a nation on an international platform requires consultants to go beyond industry norm with respect to professional processes and performance; this is further necessitated by an ever-changing security environment.

BE Collective considered structural hardening and other defensive requirements within the structural design, and world best engineering practice was applied to deliver a cost effective functional outcome in representing Australia.

5.Extent to Which the Work has Provided a Safe and Healthy Working Environment

The Australian Embassy has been designed and developed with the health and safety of both expatriate and local staff in mind, via the provision of a commercial work environment equivalent to Australian conditions.

BE Collective’s contribution supported equitable access for both employees and guests within a world class commercial facility and diplomatic environment, being significantly superior to local standards. Enhanced security was also achieved through a rigorous coordinated approach to perimeter and access inclusive of guard house and sally-port.

Figure 4–Tree marking the Embassy’s launch – planted by Kevin Rudd

SYDNEY | BRISBANE | PORT MORESBY | TOOWOOMBA

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