News

Nilsen wins multiple NECA South Australia 2020-2021 Excellence Awards

September 2021

On September 10, 2021 the NECA South Australia Awards dinner was held. Due to COVID restrictions in 2020, this year's awards showcased two years’ worth of projects. Nilsen won two-from-two, taking home the prizes for Best Industrial Medium Project for the Viterra Pt Giles BLP Upgrade and Best Commercial Large Project for the GPO Exchange Tower Development.

Nilsen also received the 2020-2021 Perpetual Award, presented to the company with the most outstanding project, for the GPO Exchange Tower Development, a tremendous honour.

Nilsen were engaged by Built in February 2018 to deliver the Electrical and Communication scope for the new Charter Hall project, the GPO Tower Exchange Development. Standing 20 storeys tall, the Tower is a PCA-A grade development located in the heart of the Adelaide CBD. Specific sustainability design criteria included 5 Star Base Building NABERS Office Energy, 6 Star Base Building (GBCA) Green Star Design and As-Built Rating and WELL Building Standard v1.

The scope of works undertaken by Nilsen for this project included the usual electrical, communications and lighting items as well as sustainable elements such as organic response lighting control, solar implementation, and Electric Vehicle chargers. The building performance requirements, in addition to the high-end design and exemplary finishes, both internally and externally, ensured that the GPO Tower Exchange Development was one of the most instantly recognisable and sustainable Commercial Developments of 2019.

Nilsen’s scope on the Port Giles Jetty for Viterra Operations project included High Voltage, Low Voltage and Communications upgrade, delivered under a Design and Construct contract. This particular project stepped outside the boundaries of a “Day-to-Day” Electrical Services project in that it included HV, LV, Communications, Hazardous Area, Conveyor and Boom works along with Structural Engineering and Structural Installation. Our scope was carefully planned and staged with both Viterra Operations and Flinders Ports so the works could be carried out whilst maintaining business continuity.

The standout technical innovation and design related to the lifting and placing of the new switch room, onto the jetty platform and final positioning within the confines of the existing structure. This feat required a detailed methodology, dry land mock-up of the transformer lift at our Regency Road premises, as well as collaboration with the client, specialist logistics contractor and Maritime Constructions (via barge) to ensure pinpoint accuracy throughout the entire process.

Nilsen also designed, supplied and installed temporary cantilever steelwork to facilitate the switch room install from the barge as well as structural steel under room and a steel walkway platform with only 20mm clearances to existing generator house. Nilsen are extremely proud of the successful result of the project, considering the exacting requirement of the scope.

Both projects were delivered by the Nilsen SA Contracting team, overseen by Division Manager, Neil Williamson. The GPO Tower project was delivered by Project Manager Rob Cannata and the Port Giles project by Project Manager Clive Bolton, along with their respective teams. Congratulations to all involved on these incredible, award-winning projects!