2025 AIRAH National Awards: Ellis Air wins Excellence in HVAC – Best New Project

The Queens Wharf development is one of the most ambitious and complex construction projects ever undertaken in Queensland. Spanning multiple interconnected towers, the precinct brings together private residences, luxury hotels, retail and entertainment spaces, a new casino and extensive public walkways. Now a defining feature of Brisbane’s skyline, the project represents a landmark achievement in large-scale urban development.

Ellis Air delivered the project’s largest mechanical services package, playing a central role in the design and execution of the development’s HVAC systems. The company was responsible for the design of the central energy plant, which features an innovative chilled water ring main supported by advanced heat recovery and reuse strategies.

By centralising HVAC services across the interconnected buildings, the system provides high levels of redundancy and ensures uninterrupted cooling to all podiums and towers. At the same time, the intelligent use of heat recovery significantly improves overall energy efficiency, supporting both operational resilience and sustainability outcomes for the precinct.

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